Arrest of crime-fighting unit and staff divides community
Crime fighters or vigilintes, that’s the question
Some regard them as crime fighters while others see members of the Western Vhukovhela Protection Unit as hooligans who go around beating and intimidating residents in Sinthumule, near Makhado, in Limpopo.
About five members of the notorious crime-fighting unit have been arrested and are facing charges of attempted murder, intimidation, kidnapping and theft. They include brothers and founders of the unit Rendani and Dakalo Makhavu as well as three employees, Duncan Madzaga, Mbilaelo Bakali and Sam Makananise.
One of the victims, business owner and community activist Patrick Sikhutshi, said the brothers targeted anyone who was against their vigilantism.
Sikhutshi said he opened a case against them after they attacked him at his home and also tried to break into his butchery.
“These people are heartless. They terrorise the community to the extent that everyone is gripped by fear. I am greatly aggrieved and angry. I don’t know what I did to deserve this abuse,” he said.
Sikhutshi said other people in the community supported the crew.
“Every time they appear in court there is a protest outside, with people demanding that they be released. To them these people are heroes but they are heartless criminals,” he said.
Another victim is taxi owner Tshianeo Mamphondo, and security company owner Eric Ramurembiwa who was hospitalised after he was beaten to a pulp, allegedly by members of the group.
The brothers denied that there were running a vigilante group and added that their problems were caused by a conflict they had with a local businessman.
They allege that some people had been trying to get rid of them because they benefit from the stock theft.
Rendani described their work as that of a community protection forum which was started in response to rampant crime in the area. They also do night patrols and respond to calls from residents.
Community leader Eunice Rasichabele said most people were against the arrests of the brothers because their company had been helping to fight crime in the community.
“We are going to court to show our support because these people are helping us. When you call the police they tell you that there are no vans but those guys respond as soon as you call them,” said Rasichabele.
She said most people were worried that with the group behind bars crime would start to increase.
Rasichabele said every household had committed to paying R10 every month to support the work being done by the group because people felt safer with them around.
Local business owner Tavelo Nakhavhu, who runs an internet café, said they were happy with the services of the company and were taken aback that they were now being described as criminals.
Nakhavhu said people from about 12 villages in the Sinthumule area such as HaRavele, Tshiozwi, Rathidili and HaRamantsha relied on the company to fight crime.
“We feel protected with these guys around because the thieves are afraid of them,” Nakhavhu said.
Limpoppolice spokesperson Lt-Col Mamphaswa Seabi said the arrests were made in October after getting information about a group that allegedly terrorised residents.
“This comes after information about wanted suspects who are being sought for kidnapping, assault, GBH and terrorising the community was received,” Seabi said.
He said preliminary investigations had revealed that the group could be linked to a number of cases including attempted murder, intimidation, pointing of a firearm, kidnapping and the theft of motor vehicle.
Institute for Security Studies crime hub manager Lizette Lancaster said vigilantism in the country was as a result of the low public confidence in the criminal justice system and people do not trust the police to protect them.
“The country has a problem with group crimes escalating. Gangs are in control, be it gang violence, taxi wars, construction gangs who stop service delivery and this helps people feeling helpless.
“Those who can’t afford security measures often feel neglected by the police and alone in protecting their families and homes.
“Violence is so normalised in society that ‘ordinary’ people commit horrific acts, at times in response to high levels of crime and perceptions that police and government crime-reduction strategies are ineffective.
“Those who can, invest in private security and measures such as burglar bars, alarms, dogs and firearms for protection,” the study read, adding that all types of mob or vigilante action run the risk of targeting innocent people who are in the wrong place at the wrong time.