‘Dear Mr President, our residents are under siege’

With large sections of Motherwell plagued by murders, hijackings and robberies, the situation has become so dire that Nelson Mandela Bay Ward 59 councillor Bulelani Matenjwa has raised the alarm with President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Matenjwa wrote to Ramaphosa on July 25 after five people were killed, three others hijacked and a school robbed in the ward — this month alone.

He pleaded with the president to intervene urgently to stem the crime wave.

In his letter, Matenjwa said he had done all he could as a councillor and more robust measures were needed.

“As the elected ward councillor, I am writing to express the deep concerns and desperate need for greater intervention to address the escalating crime in our community.

“The residents feel under siege from criminal elements, and we are rapidly running out of strategies to safeguard ourselves.

“Despite our proactive efforts, including the election of sub-forums and repeated requests for increased police visibility, the situation has deteriorated significantly.”

In the past three weeks, Matenjwa said, Motherwell had witnessed a disturbing surge in criminal activity.

This included three hijackings, five murders and a brazen robbery at Khulile Primary School.

All the crimes occurred in broad daylight.

“The fear and anxiety among our residents are palpable, with many afraid to leave their homes.

“As a councillor, I share their fear and frustration as I, too, was a victim of a hijacking in recent months, which has left me feeling helpless in my role.”

Matenjwa said he found it difficult to reassure residents when efforts to fight crime in the area had been ineffective. 

He said Motherwell needed enhanced police visibility, rapid response units and comprehensive crime prevention programmes.

“Additionally, support for community initiatives that foster co-operation and vigilance would be invaluable.

“Our community is on the brink of despair and we need your urgent intervention because another public meeting or visit to a crime scene feels futile and unfair to grieving families.”

On July 12, three people were killed after gunmen entered a Motherwell home in Ndumba Street.

They shot Xolokazi Msizi, Luthando Ngece and Gcobisa Mabuya.

According to police, the victims were in their home when three gunmen entered the premises and instructed Ngece, who was in a back room, to go into the main house.

As soon as they entered the house, they demanded that Msizi open her banking app, and when she told them she had no money, she and the two others were shot.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa said the provincial serious and violent crimes unit in Gqeberha was investigating the murders.

Mawisa said just over a week before the attack, a 54-year-old woman had been killed, also in Ndumba Street.

“The circumstances surrounding the incident [along with the triple murders] form part of the investigation,” Mawisa said.

“Detectives are probing whether these murders could be linked with the murder of a 54-year-old that occurred on July 4, however, at this stage the cases are investigated as separate incidents.”

Mawisa said NU7, which is part of Ward 59, had visible policing, including a community service centre, crime prevention units, Flying Squad and specialised units that were deployed as needed.

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said within two weeks of taking up office new police minister Senzo Mchunu had prioritised policing in Nelson Mandela Bay and hotspot communities in the Western Cape.

“He engaged with communities and several stakeholders on the issue of crime.

“The president has full confidence in the leadership of the minister and in members of the SAPS, that they'll be able to deal with the scourge of crime in these crime hotspot areas.”

On Monday, Matenjwa said: “Murders and robberies have become a daily occurrence in the ward and hijackings happen every month.

“Last Wednesday, criminals stormed Khulile Primary School’s administrative block and forced everyone, including staff and pupils, to lie down and took their belongings.

“This is not the first time a school has been robbed in this fashion.

“I believe there’s a crime syndicate that operates successfully in the ward, hence we are calling for the national government, including the police minister, to intervene swiftly to prevent further senseless murders in our communities.”

Matenjwa said he had engaged with regional police officials and the MEC for community safety, Xolile Nqatha.

However, little progress had been made and he now hoped national government officials would visit the area to hear directly from residents about their experiences with crime.

Describing the Khulile Primary robbery, police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said six men entered the school and demanded cash and cellphones.

“Two cellphones were taken, and the [robbers] fled the scene in the school principal’s vehicle.

“At about 1.30pm, the vehicle was found abandoned in Mahambehlala Street, Kwazakhele, where it appears that the [robbers] lost control of the vehicle and it overturned,” Beetge said.

The police are investigating a case of business robbery.

Meanwhile, residents of KwaMagxaki held a community meeting after the murder of two people in the area last week.

Ward 30 councillor Xolani Notshe said shootings and killings triggered fear among residents, which prompted the meeting.

The ward includes Soweto-on-Sea, Veeplaas and Deal Party.

Notshe said the police and metro police officials also attended the meeting. 

“We experience crime every day in the ward but [the latest murders] shocked everyone, hence I saw it fit to rope in the police so they can assist us, and learn how we can work with them as a community to prevent crime,” Notshe said.

“Police committed to being more visible in the area, however, highlighting the shortage of vehicles and the fact that not all crimes are reported, which worsens the scourge.”

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