North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management Gaoage Molapisi together with Local Government and Human Settlements MEC Collin Maine urgently intervened in Boikhutso following the killings of two young people informed by gangsterism acts that were terrorising the community.

Both MEC’s called an urgent meeting with the stakeholders of Boikhutso and SAPS at Lichtenburg Police Station. The meeting was also attended by the Ditsobotla Executive Mayor Lesego Holele and some the councillors.

The urgent intervention was prompted by the killings of two people and the disruption of schools by a mob of young people in Boikhutso who also barricaded the roads on Friday morning. The community of Boikhutso refused to support their march and that frustrated the group.

On Friday, 05 September morning, the mob marched to the schools in Ward 2 and 3, while learners were busy writing the mock examinations.

 Upon their arrival they found the school gates locked. Some jumped the fence and others broke down the gates forcing entry into the school. They then ordered school managers to release the scholars to join them on an illegal march and proceeded to classes to terrorise the scholars, and some were even beaten up.

For some time Boikhutso was turned into a Hollywood, with action on the streets of around thirty young people. It is alleged that these young people use drugs which makes them to lose their senses and live in their dream world. The meeting raised a number of issues with regard to gangstarism in the community and that they demand to be hired at the Municipality. Further they want the contractors in their wards to employ only people who are members of the gang. Both MEC’S agreed that the law enforcement agencies should deal harshly with lawlessness in the area.

MEC Molapisi emphasised that all the cases opened against the gangsters and of the killings should be investigated without any hesitation. Heavy police security is deployed at Boikhutso and arrests have been made.

He urged members of the community to actively participate in Community Safety Forums (CPFs) and should not be reactive.

Molapisi said that the community cannot be held hostage by a group of young people who does not have respect for anybody. “Community must stand up and defend their freedom, Boikhutso which means peace must be peaceful and stable. Safety is everybody’s business and thugs must not set the agenda for them,” he said.

A broader meeting which is inviting all the communities in Ward 2 and 3 will be held at Ward 3 sports ground on Monday, 8

th September 2014 at 14H00. The meeting will seek to find a lasting solution for the problems in Boikhutso and will again be attended by MEC Molapisi and Maine.
-TDN
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