‘ We will kill,’ say people in Ilinge

Police not protecting them, residents claim

Residents of Ilinge extension 2 said they were prepared to kill ”, in response to “several crimes in the area, which led to a mob justice incident last week.

Community members met on Tuesday and raised concerns relating to police visibility, burglaries and street lights they claim are intentionally disconnected by criminals.

Ward committee member Noluvuyo Fatuse said they had held several meetings regarding the SAPS failing to protect the community, and as such, mob justice seemed to be the only solution.

Women in this area complained about a

“man who knocked on their doors at night.

“The culprit was apprehended by residents and mob justice ensued.

Police officers are not visible in this area, “and when they do come nothing is done. We are most bothered by the incident of

“an old woman whose house was burgled and left in a dilapidated state.

We are told that it is difficult to find these “criminals, but every weekend we do not sleep because of them.

“My son was stabbed and I asked if they wanted a corpse before these cases were followed up.

We are bullied by these criminals and

“they are not scared of anyone.

We told the station commander that we

“will kill. We know it is against the law, but we are now forced to do so.”

Resident Bulelani Jimlongo said criminals disconnected electrical boxes and switched off street lights, leaving the entire area in darkness to perform their criminal activities. When we arrived to assess these poles,

“electrical boxes were open and the main switch was off in most of them.

They have confessed to doing it.

“

All we want is to work together with the

“police and municipality to resolve the issues. The area is completely dark and there is a “problem as houses of elderly people are invaded and they are raped.

Three weeks ago more than eight houses “were burgled,” he said.

Fatuse said the Ilinge police station commander had agreed to meet the residents at 9am on Tuesday. However, he refused to attend after learning a reporter from The Rep would be present.

Jimlongo said: He is now telling us that

“gatherings are not allowed as per Covid-19 regulations, but criminals have not stopped operating because of lockdown. This is the time we are targeted and abused by criminals. “What must residents do?” Resident Nomonde Ntantiso said: We are

“so disappointed because we are here in the cold because he agreed to meet us at 9am.

“He refused to come because there is someone from The Rep here.”

One of two men accused of interfering with electrical boxes, who was summoned to the meeting, confessed to switching off street lights.

He led community members to a nearby street light pole, where residents demanded that he switch it on again.

Police spokesperson Capt Namhla Mdleleni said: According to the police crime

“report, Ilinge has no rise in crime. There is only one case of rape reported for the month.

“There are only cases of assault GBH and most of them are domestic violence cases that happened indoors. There is police visibility at Ilinge and operations are taking place, including district operations which are conducted on a weekly basis to assist Ilinge.”