Johannesburg - Police Minister Nathi Nhleko has promised to work with the community of Westbury to root out criminals and to bring normality to the area.
The Minister said he was extremely concerned by the spate of killings involving children and women in the area and called on communities to mobilise against the scourge.
“For us to achieve this we need to build a united front against crime and corruption. We appeal to all our citizens to use designated institutions of policing to deal with matters of policing,” said Minister Nhleko on Thursday.
The community needs to play its part by partnering with police through forums like the Community Policing Forum (CPF) and reporting crime.
The Minister on Thursday met with the station commander and other officers at Sophiatown Police Station before he visited the family of three-year-old Luke Tibbetts, who was shot in the head after being caught in a shootout on the corner of Statler and Croesus streets.
The boy sustained critical injuries when he was shot along with a 28-year-old man, on Saturday evening. The two were travelling in the area in separate vehicles when they were hit by stray bullets.
The man was discharged from hospital after being treated for a gunshot wound in the arm, while Luke sustained serious injuries and was put on life support. He was later declared brain dead at Garden City private clinic. The family is still deciding whether to take him off life support.
The accused, 24-year-old Lindray Khakhu, who was arrested on Sunday, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder.
He appeared in court where the case was postponed to August 12. Khakhu will be kept in custody at the Johannesburg Central Prison, according to Gauteng Community Safety MEC Sizakile Nkosi-Malobane.
The court heard that these were not the only charges Khakhu is currently facing. He also faces three other charges of attempted murder for a separate incident. The cases are pending before the High Court.
On Wednesday, police also arrested a 28-year-old wounded man -- who has been identified as Keenan Mokwena -- after he admitted that he was the intended target for the stray bullet that had hit Luke in the head. He appeared in court today and was denied bail.
Relatives and neighbours have rallied around Luke’s family home since the incident occurred.
“We are all broken hearted by this. This is heart-breaking, no mother should ever have to go through this,” said one neighbour.
Others at the house described Luke as a lovely little boy. “He was a lovely little boy and doesn’t deserve all this,” said another neighbour.
The incident has sparked the community to raise their dissatisfaction with policing in the area.
On Tuesday, angry community packed the court where the suspect appeared. They complained that people were arrested for various crimes but were usually released and back on the streets the next day.
Westbury is one of the areas identified as a drug hot spot, following an outcry by an Eldorado Park mother a few months ago, which prompted President Jacob Zuma to visit the area.
Gang-related crime continues to dominate the area according to residents SAnews spoke to.
“There is not a single day that goes by without some tragedy playing out in this community. People are killed and women are raped here all the time. It's not safe and we are scared. It's a paradise for gangsters,” said a resident who introduced himself as Nathan.
He said in the past they had seen provincial government officials come into the area to listen to their complaints but go back and forget about the area.
Nathan’s views were confirmed by another resident who introduced herself as Bianca. She said the gangs were not only present but flourishing.
“We have the Fuzz guys, the Faradas and the Boys of Brazil - these guys rule and the fact that there is no employment is a big problem because people sit around getting high and plan violence. This place is deurmekaar [messed up].”
The Minister said part of the department’s plan for the area was to restore and strengthen the communities trust with the police.
Luke’s shooting comes just a week after the senseless murder of 4-year-old Taegrin Morris in Reiger Park and the hijacking of a father and his 5-year-old son near Bronkhorstspruit – incidents that grabbed the attention of the nation.
The incidents prompted National Police Commissioner General Riah Phiyega to announce that the National Intervention Unit, Tactical Response Team and Public Order Policing units will descend on the country’s identified gangster hotspots such as the northern parts of Port Elizabeth, Western Cape, Free State and Gauteng. -SAnews.gov.za
