Abahlali demand protection from cops

RESIDENTS of this kasi live in fear.

They're concerned about crime, gender-based violence (GBV) and taxi violence.

On Sunday, 27 April, the residents of Zonizizwe in Ekurhuleni and members of the ANC took to the streets. They marched to Zonkizizwe Police Station to handover a memorandum, asking for protection from cops.

They said they're worried about their safety, claiming they struggle to get transport after 6pm as taxis drop them a few kilometres away and don't enter Zonkizizwe in the evening.

Thabo Mkhari (51) said Zonkizizwe has turned into a war zone.

"The sounds of gunshots have become part of our lives. There are no days that go by without hearing gunshots. The next thing you will hear people have been killed. If it's not a taxi violence, people have their belongings stolen and are killed. We are tired of this and want protection from cops," said Thabo.

Lindiwe Mangena (39) said it's a struggle to travel back home from work after 6pm.

"I work in Joburg, and taxis drop off commuters at the stop sign. I have to walk 2km to get home. It's dangerous to walk in the veld because thugs are out there to rob us," said Lindiwe.

ALSO READ | Abahlali wake up to find bodyOpens in new window

Sergio Mkefa, ANC regional task team deployee, said they handed over the memorandum of understanding to the Zonkizizwe cops, intending to stop the scourge of gender-based violence.

"As we commemorated Freedom Day, the Freedom Charter stated that all shall enjoy equal human rights. We demand justice for all gender-based violence victims and call on the Zonkizizwe Police Station and supporting law enforcement agencies to act swiftly when gender-based violence cases are reported," said Mfeka.

He said their demands included the safety for women, kids, the elderly, people living with disabilities, the vulnerable and the LGBTQIA+ community.

He added that by signing the memorandum of understanding, the ANC representative and Zonkizizwe Police Station agreed to work together to stop GBV and taxi violence.

Station commander Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Harmse has urged the community to work with the police to tackle their issues.

"I will forward the memorandum to the relevant departments, and we will ensure the demands are attended to. Everyone is welcome in my office. We would appreciate it if the community provided information that will help combat crime in the area," said Harmse.