Jukulyn crimes: 'Cops work with tsotsis'

THE community of Jukulyn in Soshanguve, north of Tshwane, has accused the police of working with criminal syndicates.

This was at the ministerial community imbizo to establish partnerships with to combat crime on Friday, 5 April, in Soshanguve, Block X Community Hall.

Jukulyn has been struggling with escalating crime, which has generally been terrorising the community, including carjackings, gang violence, and robberies.

The region has become infamous for high crime rates, especially gangsterism. On Monday, 1 January, there was a mass shooting that killed four people, including a 13-year-old and a cop, and municipal services and courier companies only accessed the township through SAPS and Tshwane Metro Police escorts. 

The Imbizo Panel, which was attended by several government authorities, announced the recall of retired detectives to assist with over 300 ongoing crimes in Soshanguve's Jukulyn.

Police Deputy Minister, Cassel Mathale, remarked that this is part of determining the cause of the an increase in murders recorded in the area, emphasising the importance of dealing with criminality decisively and without regard for party affiliations.

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The South African Defence Force (SANDF) has been urged to intervene immediately and seize illegal firearms in Jukulyn.

Deputy Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thabang Makwetla has urged Jukulyn's community to foster a sense of social togetherness.

"Crime is the growing selfishness and greed of individuals who want to have better living conditions by continuing to do wrong things to the next person, even including killing other people, and with unity, that is going to stop if we work together in solidarity," he said.

Henrietta Bogopane-Zulu, Deputy Minister of Social Development, stated that the department has built a drug treatment clinic in Soshanguve since drugs contribute to the area's high crime rate.

She further stated that the Soshanguve area had the highest number of rape cases from as little as nine months old babies.

Ward councillor Bongani Masina was satisfied with the government's involvement in the fight against crime.

"We encourage Rietgat police to collaborate with local patrollers because they are aware of what is going on on the ground," he said.