THE army will be sent to Port St Johns to assist the police in containing the ongoing violence in Majola Village, Eastern Cape.
This was announced by Police Minister Bheki Cele during his two-day visit to the conflict-stricken village from Sunday, 30 April to Monday, 1 May.
He was accompanied by national police commissioner General Fanie Masemola, MEC for Community Safety and Liaison Xolile Nqatha, as well as the local and district municipality mayors.
Addressing the affected villagers on their crime concerns during a community engagement, Cele assured them their complaints were being dealt with at the highest level.
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He said he had made a request to President Cyril Ramaphosa to send the army to support the police in the area.
"Majola village cannot be a ghost town where villagers are terrorised by thugs and fear for their lives to such an extent that they opt to live in the bushes rather than in their own homes," said the minister.
"We will put an end to this, hence we are bringing some of our best men and women to bring stability and peace to this village.
"So, with more boots on the ground, we will go toe-to-toe with these criminals hellbent on preying on the most vulnerable members of our society."
Cele said while they were awaiting the arrival of the army, national intervention officers would be sent to the area.
The conflict, allegedly over stock theft in the village, is reported to have claimed 22 lives and 140 homes were burnt down over the last three years.
The violence also left scores of families, including children, poor and without food as they had resorted to leaving their homes and seeking refuge in nearby bushes.
On 24 January 2023, police arrested a 57-year-old soldier in the area and he's facing murder, arson and attempted murder charges.
