HUNDREDS of devastated residents in Bushbuckridge, with political leaders and businesspeople, took to the streets to protest on Thursday, 6 July.
They marched from nearby Merriam Mogakane Community Hall and the R40 to hand over a memorandum of grievances to the Acornhoek cop shop.
They directed the memorandum to Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtshweni Tsipane and Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Manamela over the crime rate.
SACP District Secretary Milton Morema said they had noted with disappointment that their grievances were still not addressed through relevant departments.
"We have converged at Acornhoek Police Station to express our frustrations and disappointment about the safety and security and the alarming rate of Gender Based Violence and Femicide, which we feel threatens our existence," Morema said.
Morema said they demanded the police station be rebuilt since it burnt in August 2019.
"Recent crime and GBV statistics reveal a damning situation against our people. Bushbuckridge is not spared on this barbaric behaviour the country finds itself," he said.
Morema said crimes such as housebreaking, shoplifting, aggravating robbery, car theft, and murder had taken a toll on the people since the police stations operated on insufficient human resources.
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COSATU'S Patricia Ngobeni said the kidnapping of children is taking a new shape.
"Rape and sexual violence have become hyperendemic. This scourge affects all, young and old, rich and poor, rural and urban.
"We have seen an increase in illegal mining activities by foreign nationals brandishing AK47s in broad daylight," she said.
Ehlanzeni ANC Regional member Phazamisa Mathe said the slow progress on rape cases was a result of DNA results taking time to be released.
"Outstanding cases of those who murdered Mandla Nkosi, Eric Mohlala, Surprise Mashego and others must be thoroughly investigated.
"We also demand the re-arrest of the culprit who raped a 13-year-old minor from Buffelshoek.
"Police officers must be rotated on a six-month basis. We also demand the deployment of soldiers and Amaberethe to deal with crime at roadblocks, house-to-house operations and illegal immigrants operating as Zama Zamas at Thaba-Chewu mines, with Pilgrim's Rest being the hot spot," Mathe added.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Manamela, received and signed the memorandum and promised to deliver it to her higher authorities and the ministries.
