BY Obakeng Maje

The community of Matlosana and its surroundings took crime in their hands yesterday by marching  to Khuma Police.

 On Wednesday, 16 May 2012, the Mayor of Matlosana, Mr Kagiso Khauwe together with the community of Klerksdorp, Orkney, Stilfontein and Hartebeesfontein (KOSH) handed over the Memorandum to Khuma Police Station.

In the memorandum the community complained about their dissatisfaction at the manner in which the lives of women and children are threatened by gansterism in the area. In the memorandum the community demanded the following:

• ·         The South African Police Service deal decisively with gangsters and criminals
• ·         Visibility of police in all surrounding areas such as schools, taverns.
• ·         Campaign and awareness-  police to visit schools during assemblies to discourage gangs
• ·         Close all illegal taverns in the township
• ·         Revive more participation on community policing forum

According to the Mayor, poor women and children of the KOSH areas continued to be abused and subjected to humiliation which continues to degrade their lives. The Mayor expressed their anger and dissatisfaction at the manner in which gansterism threatened  the lives of their loved ones in which rapes and killings are the order of the day.

In receiving the memorandum, Khuma Station Commander Colonel Patricia Selehelo ensured the communities that they will ensure that their demands will be met within seven days. She also expressed their concern about crime in the area.

The stern warning is being from the North West Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Mbombo is that all elements of gansterism ranging from gang fight, rape, murder and drugs will be rooted out of Khuma township. Parents and community members are urged to cooperate with the police and they are also urged to monitor their own children and make sure that they do not get involved in any form of gansterism