We will not co-govern with criminals, Minister of Police Bheki Cele told Mamelodi residents at the community engagement (Imbizo) held on Monday, 25 February at the International Assembly of God in Mamelodi East. The Imbizo follows two weeks after the residents have expressed their disgruntles with the police service delivery, during Minister Cele’s previous visit when he announced the new Gauteng Police Commissioner, Lieutenant Mawela.
A young man told the Minister of an alleged Mamelodi boss, who allegedly exploits and extorts local businesses, collects protection fee and rental money from tenants are amongst many of the things the man is accused off. Minister Cele ordered the police to protect the young. “this brave young man must not die or heads will roll” he gave a stern warning.
“We are not here to declare war, it has already started and we are here to end it. We cannot have criminals roaming the streets freely with guns, demanding protection fee, exploiting local businesses, taking the law into their own hands, it ends now” he said.Minister Cele told Commissioner Mawela to clean up Mamelodi.
“No more talk shows, its time to act commissioner Mawela. It is time to clean up Mamelodi and we will not rest until it becomes a crime free zone. Asijiki”. The minister also encouraged the community to cooperate with the police, to name and shame incompetent and corrupt officials “report the corrupt and incompetent officers and we will bring them to the book”.
Commissioner Mawela shared his plans to fight crime in Mamelodi. “We are deploying a cold case unit and implementing a national police strategy to improve the police service in Mamelodi. We are prepared to work with established structures that share the same vision. Criminal structures are not our friends” he said.
In the morning the Minister and Commissioner raided hostels in Mamelodi West, where illegal firearms were confiscated.
BY: MEGAN SELLO
