THE Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Tshwane has labelled amaPanyaza as ineffective when it comes to preventing crime.
They said this after two recent shooting incidents that occurred on New Year’s Day, one of which resulted in the tragic loss of four people in Soshanguve and the death of Ndebele Chief Duvazi Joe Mushwana in Wallmansthal.
The party said that crime has skyrocketed under the ANC-led government, reaching alarmingly high levels in communities and that these incidents have caused physical harm and psychological trauma to the Tshwane community.
EFF regional chairman Obakeng Ramabodu said in the past year alone, Soshanguve and its surrounding areas have been scenes of similar horrifying events.
“In June 2023, an unknown attacker wounded 15 people inside a tavern in Jukulyn, Soshanguve. In May and July of 2022, mass shootings in Soshanguve and Ga-Rankuwa, respectively, resulted in four fatalities and multiple injuries.
ALSO READ: Joy turns to tears for royal family
"The recurring nature of these mass shootings in Jukulyn cannot be dismissed as mere coincidence, but rather as an indictment of the ineffectiveness of community safety programmes and policing in the area,” said Ramabodu.
He said despite the area being known as a shooting hotspot, it seems to have been overlooked by the SAPS and Tshwane Metro Police Department.
“Additionally, the ANC's crime prevention wardens, deployed by the Gauteng Provincial Government, have proved to be ineffective in preventing such incidents. The ANC has been unsuccessful in safeguarding communities from the rampant spread of illegal firearms and senseless killings,” he said.
“The EFF has been calling on Tshwane Municipality to install streetlights and surveillance cameras to improve the safety of residents. However, this call has fallen on the deaf ears of a racist and incompetent administration that doesn't care about townships and informal areas but only priorities affluent suburbs in the east of Tshwane."
Ramabodu said the prevalence of illegal firearms is a cause for concern in Tshwane and that the party calls on law enforcement agencies to conduct intensive stop-and-search programmes to improve the safety of community members.
