Duncan Village residents say they were shocked that no shooting incidents were heard in the township on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“That’s unlike our township. We are used to shooting incidents of various kinds of guns on a daily basis,” said Nozanele Maxaza, a member of the Duncan Village crime forum.
Concerned residents in the township marched to Duncan Village police station, locally known as KwaLloyd, on Thursday morning.
At the top of their concerns are shootings and hijackings which they say receive a minimal reaction from the police.
Residents say their WhatApp groups were inundated by reports of shooting and hijacking incidents from concerned locals.
“On Monday, when we marched to the police station, there were no shooting incidents heard on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“We last heard shooting at around 7pm on Monday,” Maxaza said.
“There are so many shooting and hijacking incidents in our area. Cars are hijacked even in daylight.
“If you are driving your car in the area and you are not known, chances are that you might be hijacked.
“Our police station is not assisting us. Police are not working with us.
“As the forum, we come across many incidents of crime and report them to police but with no justice served to victims,” she said.
Another crime forum member, Akhona Ndlovu, also said they decided to march to the police station because police were not co-operating with them in their crime-fighting initiates.
“There are instances where we caught suspected criminals but they would be released by police upon their arrest with no justice for victims.”
Ndlovu said their lives were in danger in the township.
“It is a risk on its own to catch a suspected criminal,” Ndlovu said.
“It is even more risky to see a suspected criminal walking down the road knowing they were arrested because of your calls to the police station.”
He said the shootings in the area were having a bad effect on the wellbeing of their children.
“Our children are so scared. When there are shootings we lie on the floor fearing a bullet might hit us while in the shack.
“Remember it is possible that a bullet can hit you randomly when you are in the shack,” Ndlovu said.
He said they needed action from the police.
“We want the police to work with us to rid our area of crime. We want them to respond quickly when we phone them because at times they respond very late,” Ndlovu said.
Duncan Village resident Thozamile Mida said: “If you stay in Duncan Village and you are working an early shift in town, you need to be escorted because you will be robbed.
“It’s same thing when you knock off after 7pm at your workplace.
“Amaphara [thugs] in our area have no respect for human life. Now we say enough is enough. Police need to come on board and assist us,” Mida said.
At the police station it was decided there should be a meeting between provincial police and residents.
If arrangements go according to residents’ demands, the meeting is scheduled to take place at the Gompo Hall on Wednesday.
Duncan Village police station commander Colonel Mkhombiseni Mkhize addressed the residents saying the station was committed to fighting crime in the area.
“We are your servants and we will always make sure that we fight the crime in the area,” Mkhize said.
DispatchLIVE
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