The alleged discovery of yet another murder in Jan Kempdorp today has, for the second time this week, shone the spotlight on the increasingly dire lack of policing in the Phokwane municipal area. This has prompted the Democratic Alliance (DA) to call on the MEC of Safety, Nomandla Bloem, in addition to the Office of the Provincial Police Commissioner, to urgently look into the high crime rate and a growing lack of confidence in the South African Police Service (SAPS) in and around Jan Kempdorp.
The DA is particularly concerned about the seemingly high rate of murders and assaults in the area, the majority of which remain unresolved. This includes the 2018 murder case of Edward Denver Lloyd. According to Jennifer Pietersen, the mother of the murder victim, absolutely nothing has come of his case. There have been no arrests, no investigation, no court cases and no feedback on the R10 000 that was put up as a reward for information relating to Edward’s murder.
There are apparently about 10 other unresolved murder cases that took place in 2018. Meanwhile, in the past two months alone, it is alleged that there have been five new murders, including the one discovered today. The community claims they are well aware of who the killers are, but yet the perpetrators continue to roam the streets, with zero action being taken against them. There are also allegations of witnesses fearing for their lives and one witness even having committed suicide because he apparently feared retribution.
While the ongoing gangster-like crime wave that has engulfed Jan Kempdorp sounds like something out of a thriller, it is all too real for the local residents, who live each day in dread of what could happen to them or their children.
The relaxed, nonchalant and uncaring attitude of the police makes the situation even more disturbing. Even more so, considering revelations made earlier this week that the police service in the area is largely unresponsive and inaccessible.
It is little wonder that the community has lost faith in SAPS.
The DA is calling on MEC Bloem, in conjunction with the Provincial Police Commissioner’s office, to institute an investigation into both the lack of policing in Phokwane, as well as into the murderous rampage that has been unleashed on the people of this town over the past couple of years.
Whether it is gangsterism or a serial killer, or even a series of unrelated crimes, the bottom line is that the community needs answers, actions and arrests to stop the murder spree.