BY REGINALD KANYANE

THE plan to beef up security in various foreign shops has been discussed amidst the killings that recently escalated in across Taung. According to Taung Foreign Business Forum (TFBF) more than 10 business owners had been killed in Taung so far. This results in them planning to close down their businesses.

Hasan Al Zaid, 34, who is a secretary for Taung Foreign Business Forum (TFBF) said it seems their safety has been compromised. “We no more feel safe in the area. Almost 10 foreign-businessmen had been killed so far, and that leaves us vulnerable because you end up asking yourself who is next. We need an intervention and also the police need to act swiftly,” Zaid said.

Three weeks ago a Bangladesh businessman was killed in Matsheng village, Taung in his shop while he was asleep. North West police managed to arrest four suspects whom they were linked positively to the crime.

A week ago, another Bangladesh was a victim in Mothanthanyane village, after the suspects entered his shop and bludgeoned to death. The suspects allegedly set his shop ablaze afterwards and no one has been arrested so far.

Taung Business Forum chairperson, Lesego Lencwe said they met with foreign businessmen including police to come up with strategic plan of how to combat this criminal behaviour. He said they will beef-up security and another plan is to have patrollers around different areas.

“We met with our fellow foreign brothers to discuss plans how to stop this carnage. We decided to come up with strategic plan like to have patrollers and also to work hand-in-hand with police. The killings of business owners are a serious concern,” Lencwe said.

However North West police spokesperson, col Sabata Mokgwabone said: “It is not true that we are dragging our feet to deal with crime. We are committed to ensure a safe and secure environment for all the citizens. Visible patrols are conducted on a daily basis not only in Taung, but in other parts of the province.

“In Taung, regular meetings are held with communities including foreign nationals who own shops as part of proactive measures of curbing crime are discussed. However, it is imperative that the community work together,” he said.

According to Mokgwabone six suspects have been arrested relating to two cases in which foreign nationals were attacked in Matsheng.

He said in the first case, four accused are expected to appear in court on Monday, (24 August 2015).

“In the second case, two accused appeared in court on Friday, (21 August 2015). We are still investigating a case in which a foreign national was killed in Mothanthanyaneng village,” he concludes.

-TDN

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