Africa-Press – South-Africa. Police Minister Bheki Cele has today, November 22, visited the bereaved Mgxada family in Sithebe Administrative Area outside Mthatha, which lost seven family members who were shot and killed by three gunmen on November 16.
The incident occurred while the family was busy with funeral preparations for another family member, Novotile Mgxada (62), who was shot and killed a week earlier.
The community is reportedly divided into factions, one supporting Masibonisane and another against the formation.
Masibonisane is a group of livestock farmers allegedly engaged in vigilante acts against stock thieves, which is rampant in the area.
“From the briefing we got this morning; I can say our police detectives are not doing their job in this area. I looked at a long list of murders and attempted murders, and no arrests had been made about those cases, which tells me that criminals do as they please in this area, and that needs to change,” Cele conceded while addressing the Imbizo.
He said he would come back within three weeks with a multi-disciplinary team from the criminal justice system to “zoom in into the rampant crime situation in Mthatha and the entire OR Tambo District policing precinct.”
Traditional leaders have implored Cele to upgrade the Bityi Police Station to Category C1, which requires a Colonel as Station Commander from its current Category B (Lieutenant Colonel) and adequate resourcing of the police station.
Cele promised those in attendance that the request would be considered.
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