Wanya Tsotsi to assist residents in crime fight

RESIDENTS from Homevale informal settlement and Operation Wanya Tsotsi (OWT) will join hands to eradicate crime in the area.

The residents last week threatened to beat and burn criminals and drug users, who they said were terrorising the community and breaking into their homes.

Spokesperson for OWT, Pantsi Obusitse, said that a meeting was convened on Tuesday and the crime-fighting organisation had agreed to assist the community in establishing a neighbourhood watch.

“Something has to be done to safeguard the community, especially the children in the area. We advised tuck shops and the bottle stores in the area to clear their business areas of persons who are loitering and are not frequenting their premises,” said Obusitse.

“The police were invited to the meeting but did not attend.”

He added that they had also advised residents not to take the law into their own hands.

“They (the residents) stated that they had a right to defend themselves and that they would make use of pangas and other dangerous weapons to chase away the criminals.”

Obusitse said that a neighbourhood watch would be established next week.

“Everyone in Ward 2 must become involved. OWT will assist with patrols and will provide support while the community will be on the ground.”

Residents stated that they had already started with patrols and had confiscated a variety of drugs.

“The councillor promised to speed up the emptying of the sewage buckets,” they added.

The police said they were not aware of the meeting.