WARNING AGAINST VIGILANTISM AND CARING OF OUR CHILDREN

WARNING AGAINST VIGILANTISM AND CARING OF OUR CHILDREN

NELSPRUIT – Today 18 November 2014, the Acting Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Major General (Adv) Meshack Nogwanya issues a stern warning against the scourge of vigilantism in the province. This comes after the community of Kabokweni near White River, Bushbuckridge and Evander near Secunda allegedly assaulted six people wherein five died and one survived for suspecting them of having committed crimes.

On the 15^th of November 2014, at approximately 08:30, community in Kabokweni assaulted a 30-year-old man who allegedly found in a certain house stealing.

Two victims found on the same date on the street at 08:00. It’s alleged that the victims committed an armed robbery at an Ethiopian national tuck shop. Police found the victims lying on the ground with open cut wounds and bruises all over their bodies.

Around 19:40, another report of brutal mob attack in Uitkyk near Evander received, this time by the police in Evander wherein two males aged 25-years-old severely assaulted. The police found the man lying on the ground and the paramedics and the other victim seriously injured certified one dead at the scene. Preliminary report revealed that the victims robbed people of their cash in what believed to be a job scam related matter.

On the wake of these incidences, Major General Nogwanya expressed his concern regarding these acts of lawlessness mash rooming within the communities. He warns the community to practise good citizenship by abiding by the law. He therefore issued a stern warning to those individuals who are taking the law into their own hands that their acts will land them in jail.

“When crime is committed, the correct and lawful route to take is to call the police to attend the scene. The police mandated by the constitution of the Republic in terms of Section 205 (3). The mandate of the police under this section is to prevent, combat and investigate crime, to maintain public order, to protect and secure the inhabitants of the Republic and their property, and to uphold and enforce the law. Under no circumstances anyone allowed to carry out any judgement against anyone who is suspected of having committed a crime. In terms of the law, if you are found having acted in an unpalatable manner wherein your actions are labelled as unlawful, police will act against you in accordance with the prescripts of the law”, concluded Major General Nogwanya.

The General further makes a humble plea to the community of Mpumalanga to secure the safety of their children, more so, to know where and how they play. The plea by the General stems from a horrific death of four children in Ermelo last week. The victims aged between 4 and 7, were locked in an unused chest freezer which was in a store room. According to reports, the store room was always locked, however one faithful day of the 11^th November 2014, police received shocking news that young kids, three boys and a girl were found inside the freezer. They all succumbed to death due to severe suffocation.

In 2013, two children also died at Embalenhle near Secunda after they were playing inside an unused motor vehicle. Their game turned ugly when one of the kids set the vehicle alight which led to the untimely death of the kid.

In October 2014, a 15-year-old grade 10 learner unlocked a safe wherein his father stored his firearm and took it to school at Mabande Secondary School in Phola Township near Ogies. Later that day, police received disturbing news that the learner has shot and killed a 16-year-old fellow learner.

“In the wake of the above, one is compelled to request the parents to make sure that they always see where their children are playing. Unused houses, freezers, motor vehicles, drums filled with water, fire arms and any other detrimental instruments should not be left vacant or allow children to use”, said Major General Nogwanya.

General Nogwanya expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families on the untimely departing of the young souls. He also thanked the police in Ermelo for voluntarily organised all the necessities for the funeral arrangements under the banner of “Men for Change”, together with SAPS Spiritual Service Chaplain offering spiritual services to lay the victims to rest. Major General Nogwanya said that indeed that is the spirit of going beyond the call of duty.