THEY’VE been disciplining hooligans and keeping residents safe for more than five years.
And residents of Phomolong, Ekurhuleni, have not had to worry about crime since then.
SO, THE NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH PATROLLERS THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE SAFE COUNTING MONEY IN A CHURCH.
However, two gun-toting suspects proved them wrong when they barged into the church on Tuesday, 15 November, and robbed them.
The patrollers were dividing community contributions among themselves, which they had received as remuneration for their hard work.
One of them told Daily Sun that the gunmen ordered everyone to get on their knees. Then they started collecting the cash, cellphones and logbooks.
A woman, who sells across the street, said she saw them walking into the church.
“They looked relaxed, and I thought they were members of the team who were late for a meeting. I was surprised to hear people screaming a few minutes after they had walked inside, and they ran out in no time,” she said.
Community members are now worried about their safety.
Witness Hopewell Dwenga said: “If they can rob the people that we trust to protect us, then who are we to fight them?
“This simply means no one is safe in this neighbourhood.”
Ekurhuleni safety representative Moshe Mohlala said that the residents were not at fault.
“They have paid for the service and need to see patrollers on the ground as usual. Going forward, we will need to change their payment method.
“We will have to ask residents to pay their contributions electronically, and then collect proof of payment from each household,” said Mohlala.
Mpho Mudau from Rabie Ridge cop shop said: “As a sector manager, I encourage community watches to share their money at the police station rather than doing so at city halls and churches.
“Another alternative is for them to let me know when they will be meeting and sharing money so I can be there during that period.”
