https://www.polity.org.za
Deepening Democracy through Access to Information
Home / News / All News RSS ← Back
Safety|Service
Safety|Service
safety|service
Close

Email this article

separate emails by commas, maximum limit of 4 addresses

Sponsored by

Close

Article Enquiry

'We are going hard on this phenomenon' - Cele says task team will probe Tshwane political violence

Close

Embed Video

'We are going hard on this phenomenon' - Cele says task team will probe Tshwane political violence

Police Minister Bheki Cele
Police Minister Bheki Cele

7th October 2021

By: News24Wire

SAVE THIS ARTICLE      EMAIL THIS ARTICLE

Font size: -+

A special team has been established to investigate political violence in the Tshwane region.

The region has been identified as a hotspot for potential political attacks and threats as the country edges closer to the November municipal elections, said police ministry spokesperson Lirandzu Themba.

Advertisement

"The South African Police Service has established a team that will focus its investigation work on the violence that has hit the Tshwane area leading up to the local government elections. This comes as the Police Ministry led two community engagements in the form of street izimbizos, hosted in Mamelodi and Mabopane," said Themba.

During the street imbizos, residents had the opportunity to express some of their policing concerns and needs to Police Minister Bheki Cele, Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale, Gauteng Community Safety and Liaison MEC Faith Mazibuko and the police management team.

Advertisement

Many residents raised concerns about increases in contact crimes and gender-based violence. Some residents also said they were concerned following the murder of a ward councillor in Mabopane, said Themba.

Tshwane ANC councillor Tshepo Motaung was gunned down while on his way home from a Heritage Day event in Mabopane last month. He was shot at least 20 times at close range with an R5 rifle.

Cele told residents that politicians using criminals to influence democratic processes will not be tolerated.

The police minister said, "There are people who want to be councillors, not on behalf of the people in the community but on behalf of criminal syndicates so that the thugs they serve can continue to terrorise and extort businesses in the area. There are also politicians who are trying to have their preferred candidates contest elections and believe using violence and intimidation tactics is going to work. It won't."

"We are going hard on this phenomenon. The SAPS and the detective team that has been appointed will ensure that everyone who is involved in these crimes is dealt with accordingly," he said.

In addition to the task team, a mobile police station has been opened in the Kopanong area to service the growing informal settlement along with the police station in Mamelodi East. Tactical Response Teams have also been deployed as "force multipliers" in Mamelodi, Mabopane and surrounding areas.

"The Police Ministry is encouraged by this deployment and believes the additional boots on the ground will also go a long way in dealing with tension and threats before, during and after the November elections," said Themba.

EMAIL THIS ARTICLE      SAVE THIS ARTICLE

To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Comment Guidelines

About

Polity.org.za is a product of Creamer Media.
www.creamermedia.co.za

Other Creamer Media Products include:
Engineering News
Mining Weekly
Research Channel Africa

Read more

Subscriptions

We offer a variety of subscriptions to our Magazine, Website, PDF Reports and our photo library.

Subscriptions are available via the Creamer Media Store.

View store

Advertise

Advertising on Polity.org.za is an effective way to build and consolidate a company's profile among clients and prospective clients. Email advertising@creamermedia.co.za

View options
Free daily email newsletter Register Now