RESIDENTS of Cape Town have praised the decision by deputy minister of police Bongani Mkongi to stop the R100 million upgrade of the Muizenburg police station and to build two more cop shops instead.
Speaking to Daily Sun, Zamiwonga Bolo (37) from Samora Machel said he welcomed Mkongi’s plan to build a police station in his kasi.
“Crime in Samora Machel is rife because we do not have a police station. We have to go to Nyanga if we need to report a case, and if we do not have transport money it means we can do nothing.”
A resident of Site B, Khayelitsha, Siviwe Mayekiso (32), said the building of a police station in Makhaza was long overdue.
“People have to go to Lingelethu or Harare to report cases. At Lingelethu they do not even have holding cells. The decision to build a police station is welcome.”
Nosiviwe Bengu from Makhaza said: “My house was broken into twice in two months, but the thugs were never arrested because we do not have a police station to focus on us specifically.
“We have to take taxis to report crime at Harare Police Station.”
Speaking to Daily Sun yesterday, Mkongi said: “We cannot subsidise the rich. The Muizenburg project is halted and I will build police stations in Makhaza and Samora Machel instead.”
Social Justice Coalition leader Chumile Sali said: “We welcome the deputy minister’s responsiveness to the opposition to the R100 million price tag.
“We hope that the ministry’s position is not merely reactive but has taken into consideration the real needs of communities, including the poor working class black African and coloured communities of Vrygrond, Capricorn, Overcome Heights and Sea.”
The coalition held an imbizo with residents at Isivivana Centre in Khayelitsha on Saturday, where they threatened to camp outside SAPS headquarters if the Muizenburg upgrade was not halted.
The decision was made after Mkongi held a meeting on Sunday with the Khayelitsha Development Forum and the coalition.
