POLICE Minister Bheki Cele visited the community of Finetown, Ennerdale, on Monday where seven people were mercilessly killed on Saturday, 29 October.
The minister received a full report from the South Africa Police Service, led by Gauteng provincial commissioner Lieutenant- General Elias Mawela on the shooting incident and the overall policing in the area before heading to Finetown.
“What kind of people shoot at people who are trying to make a living for themselves?” Cele asked, addressing the community.
He said he would deploy extra police and pledged to bring amabherete to the area to weed out all the criminals.
He didn’t say when they would be deployed.
Cele said crime was due to a lack of street lights in the area which is one of the concerns raised by the residents.
“Our streets are always dark,” said a resident.
Residents also raised the issue of not having a police station and also complained that cops came to the scene after an hour.
The minister promised the community that by next Monday a mobile police station would be made available for use.
He said funeral arrangements would be handed over to and discussed with Social Development.
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Cele committed to return to meet with residents to find solutions to criminality in the area in two weeks’ time.
General Elias Mawela urged residents to work with the police.
“When we do police operations, residents need to work with us and stop throwing stones at our vehicles,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pinky Koose and Thabang Motloung’s family is still trying to figure out how they are going to bury their loved ones. The family is hoping for a Good Samaritan to come forward and help them.
