tame TIMES
winner of the 2012 & 2013 ekurhuleni awards: best print media
Katlehong, Zonkizizwe, Magagula Heights
Becoming the voice of Ekurhuleni
Volume 03, 27 March 2014, Week 13
www.tametimes.co.za
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Kwanele with crime
Kwanele (Enough) section in Katlehong is well known for service delivery protests and high crime rates reported in the area. In a recent incident that resulted in the murder of a male suspect aged between (25-30), the police were called by the residents and informed of a business robbery happening in the area. On arrival the police found the community chasing the four male suspects for robbing a tuck-shop. Three suspects managed to flee the scene and they made a chase of one suspect. The police stepped out of the vehicle and helped with the chase and when the suspect saw that the police were closer, he started shooting at the police. The police returned fire and shot the suspect while he was trying to jump the fence at Sakhile informal settlement. He fell on the toilet hole and the paramedics declared him dead. He is not yet identified and was found in possession of a 9mm pistol with some rounds of ammunition. An attempted murder case was opened against the deceased suspect. Captain Mega Ndobe, Communications officer of Katlehong police station, said,
house and business robbery and theft are still a challenge in the area. “The rape cases are decreasing in the area. We are appealing to the residents to report any criminal activities happening. They should also identify the strangers coming in their area to terrorise and rob them. The targets are people going and coming from work and we urge the victims to open cases so that perpetrators can be arrested,” said Captain Ndobe. One of the concerned residents, who wanted to remain anonymous said, “Service delivery protests are caused by the fact that we are not getting the services that are supposed to be rendered to us. Crime is caused by unemployment; a lot of youth are not working ending up indulging in drugs. This result in youth to be involved in criminal activities namely house breaking and robbery to buy drugs. The other challenge is that the councillor is not cutting the long grass along the bridge between Kwanele and Siluma were most of the criminal activities are happening.” Tebogo Maama, ward councillor for Kwanele section said, “House breaking, theft and
Charity Moyo charity@tametimes.co.za
The scene of the incident where the suspect was shot. substance drug abuse are a challenge. Unemployment cannot be an excuse for people to indulge in drugs and ending up committing crimes such as theft to sustain their drug habits. The municipality is arranging to install extra high mast lights in the area to help people walking at night. We also encourage the community to work with the police by reporting crime and some becoming patrollers.”
The gun and ammunition which were in possession of the deceased suspect.