The Provincial Commissioner of the Eastern Cape, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene and the new MEC for Community Safety, Honourable Xolile Nqatha visited some family members, who were affected by faction fighting in several areas of Port St Johns on Wednesday. The visit ended with a community engagement in Manzi Mhlophe Administrative Area.
Local residents packed a marquee that was erected for the engagement in Manzi Mhlophe Administrative Area, Port St Johns. The audience compprising mostly of elderly people engaged the MEC Nqatha and his entourage about pertinent concerns on safety issues in areas such as Mhlotsheni and Tyeni, as one resident said “Not less than 18 homesteads were damaged and burnt down”, some of us have vacated our homes, and we are using bushes as hideouts”.
“MEC, we don’t want promises, but a police station and members that will protect us. We’re dying like flies”, another resident added.
Lt Gen Mene said, “We visited several sites, where some of these atrocities occurred, and the situation is really bad. A terrain is the major challenge, but I want to assure you that, as management we will soon operationalise our plan to address these sporadic incidents. We also urge communities to work with the police, especially when it comes to reporting of criminal activities. We have hotline numbers, which you can utilise, and they are 040 608 7562 or 040 608 7524. These numbers are working 24-hours a day, and seven days a week. Please use these numbers to report these individuals who are terrorising residents with firearms ” added Lt Gen Mene.
MEC for Community, Mr Xolile Nqatha said, “We saw that there is a need for other government departments to be involved, as some areas are not easily accessible, which could also affect service delivery.
The day ended with residents singing showing some glimmer of hope, and with a local comedian entertaining the audience.
