Masiphumelele residents march for peace

MYDF chairperson Lunga Mathambo addressed the residents saying, “The reason we are here today is so that we heal our hearts after what happened on 15 September which was the most painful day in Masiphumelele, when a child was raped and murdered and when a young mother was raped.

‘’As the MYDF we have one objective which is development and we know that there can be no progress in development when there is violence. “ He talked about how the township has a “huge problem of drugs.”

‘’We want to make sure as this organisation that there is no crime in this community. We are going to fight drugs we are going to fight crime by all means but what is important is that in our fight against crime and drugs in Masiphumelele, we don’t change ourselves [into] monsters,” Mathambo said.

‘’We have called this gathering for peace and stability, but we need to understand that it is not to make peace with drug dealers but to make peace among ourselves. We cannot be angry forever we need to heal as a community.”

In the last few weeks some of the alleged drug dealers that were told to leave the community, have threatened some community members accusing them of being the ones who sold them out. In the crowd was a women whose neighbour was one of the alleged drug dealers. She spoke out saying her life is in danger because the alleged drug dealer had threatened her. “I don’t sleep at night. He is back. He came to my house and told me he will burn it because I told the community he sells drugs,” She said.

Resident Loyiso Zongwa says the reason why the alleged drug dealers think they can retaliate is because they know the community is not united.

“Some people go and tell them what is being said at meetings. That’s why certain people have become targets because they speak out which is what the community needs. They need to know that this is our community not theirs. They have done too much damage already,” said Zongwa.

Masiphumelele is served by the Ocean View police station. The new station commander, Lieutenant Colonel “Rufie” Nel, addressed the crowd saying there is a very simple solution to solving the crime within the community. “We must work together. There is nothing that we can do without the help of the community.”

‘’Please allow the police of Ocean View to serve you. We are your servants. We are here to do what our mandate tells us to do, to keep you safe and investigate crime,” he said.

‘’The police have issues that they are going through but I promise you I will not wipe it under the carpet. All complaints against any police will be investigated and necessary steps will be taken,’’ said Nel.

He added that he hopes that by the end of the month a new satellite police station will be operating in Masiphumelele.