Eastern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene, together with the MEC for Community Safety, Xolile Nqatha visited family members affected by the faction fighting in several areas of Port St Johns on Wednesday, August 24.
According to Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli the visit ended with a community engagement at Manzi Mhlophe Administrative Area in Port St Johns.
He said that the local residents, comprising mostly of elderly people engaged Nqatha and his entourage about pertinent concerns in safety issues in areas such as Mhlotsheni and Tyeni.
One of the residents said that there were over 18 homesteads that were damaged and burnt down.
“Some of us have vacated our homes and we are using bushes as hideouts. We do not want promises but a police station and members that will protect us. We are dying like flies,” the residents said.
Mene said that they visited several sites where some of these incidents occurred, and the situation was very bad. She said that a terrain is the major challenge, “We wanted to assure them that as management they would soon operationalize their plan to address these sporadic incidents.”
“We also urge communities to work with the police, especially when it comes to reporting of criminal activities. We have hotline numbers, which the public can utilise, and they are 040 608 7562 or 040 608 7524. These numbers are working 24 hours a day, and seven days a week,” said Mene.
MEC for Safety, Xolile Nqatha said that they saw that there is a need for other government departments to be involved as some areas are not involved, with some areas not being easily accessible, which could also affect service delivery.
– ISSUED BY SAPS
