WE WANT ACTION: A protesting crowd is reflected in the sunglasses of Nomzomo Magadla from the ANC Women’s League. The protest in Mdantsane yesterday was for more police protection after a 12-year-old girl was murdered. Picture: STEPHANIE LLOYD
MORE than 100 residents from Mdantsane marched to the Inyibiba police station in Zone 14 yesterday to complain about the lack of “good service” from the station.
The residents said it was time for them to unite and say “enough is enough” after an 11-year-old girl was killed about two weeks ago.
Dimpho Mpetsheni was found dead in a gutter by children two days after she had gone missing.
The Mpetsheni family said they were still traumatised by the death of their daughter.
Siphokazi Mpetsheni, the older sister of the deceased, said: “My mother and a neighbour went to the police station asking for an immediate search to find Dimpho but the police said they didn’t have a search warrant.
“The postmortem showed she had been shot.”
There have been no arrests and an investigation is reportedly still taking place.
Last year a 70-year-old grandmother was raped and later died in hospital from her injuries.
Local ANC Women’s League secretary Pamela Mama said they had decided to join the march to complain about “incompetent” police officers as no arrests were made on cases.
“We have tried organising meetings with the station commander but she never has time to address the community. We need a new team at that station.”
The march was organised by the Young Communist League and a memorandum handed to the police. It notes:
lPolice officers report for duty under the influence of alcohol
lThe community demands an apology from the station commander for her arrogance and for undermining the community
lThe police pay regular visits to taverns and monitor their closing times
Community members said they were more worried with the festive season in full swing as this could lead to more criminal activities.
The provincial police had not commented by the time of going to print.
However the station management said it would hold a meeting today with the YCL, ANC Women’s League and representatives from the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) to resolve some of the issues addressed in the memorandum. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
