Langa residents in the Western Cape call on Police Minister to sharpen policing in the area.

Police Minister General Bheki Cele and his Deputy Cassel Mathale today 07 November 2020, engaged residents of Langa during a Ministerial Imbizo.

Deputy Minister of State Security, Zizi Kodwa and Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, Mcebisi Skwatcha also formed part of the Imbizo hosted at the Langa Indoor Sports Centre.

Under the theme ‘Enhancing partnerships with citizens for safer communities’, the Imbizo saw residents touch on matters relating to policing and the overall criminal justice system. Some raised their frustrations around the service they receive from the local police station.

Some of the allegations included police turning away victims of gender-based violence at community service centres and police not using available resources to serve the community.

The residents appealed to the Minister of Police to intervene.

In his response to the calls by the community, Minister Cele called for urgent intervention from the provincial office.

“I want the Provincial Commissioner of the Western Cape, to dig deep into these matters raised here and meet with the local station commander to urgently address the policing shortcomings. Most importantly I’m calling on the police management to identify officers at this station, who no longer want to serve the community and those members must be shown the door.”

Minister Cele also pressed SAPS management to act against officers in Langa and all other parts of the country, who continue to provide sub-standard services to victims of gender-based violence and domestic violence. He’s encouraged residents and the local community policing structures to enhance partnerships with the SAPS to stamp out criminality.

Langa residents in the Western Cape call on Police Minister to sharpen policing in the area. https://t.co/8FbneoIkPA #ArriveAlive #CrimePrevention @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/YZkjzhd3z2

— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) November 8, 2020