Private forum tackles crime in Mthatha, stripping criminals of their weapons

Two years ago, King Sabata Dalindyebo municipal mayor Nyaniso Nelani issued an impassioned plea to the police to do something about the high level of crime in Mthatha, saying the town had become a laughing stock.

He said investors could help create much-needed jobs which in turn would reduce the unemployment rate and help reduce crime.

At the time, scores of Mthatha citizens were complaining about people getting mugged in broad daylight. Incidents of muggings seem to have dropped drastically, thanks to eight citizens, mostly security guards, who call themselves the KSD Patrol Forum.

Since the forum’s inception in December, the eight unlikely heroes have managed to confiscate dangerous weapons used by muggers. During random searches on city streets on Friday, Saturday and Monday this week, the forum recovered more than 30 knives which included 15 okapis and 17 self-made weapons.

Forum co-founder Shakes Mbengo, a law enforcement officer in the OR Tambo district municipality, told the Dispatch this week that they had confiscated more than 2,300 knives and other weapons since December. The weapons are then handed to the police to destroy.

“The muggings have gone down, even at night,” he said.

“We could not just sit back and watch while criminals rule the roost.”

At a community meeting on Sunday, Mbengo told some frustrated Mthatha residents that citizens were also to blame as they created a market for stolen goods by buying from criminals. He said they tried to encourage young people to join their forum as they were the most affected, especially by the high influx of drugs.

He said the forum’s main challenges were a lack of resources like torches, batons, bulletproof vests and transport. However, they would continue to put their lives on the line to ensure that the people of Mthatha no longer lived in fear of criminals.

Mthatha Ratepayers & Residents Association spokesperson Madyibi Ngxekana — who doubles as a councillor at KSD local and OR Tambo district municipalities — praised the forum for its work, saying, “there’s been a drastic drop in crime; muggings especially have dropped tremendously, and we as ratepayers appreciate the effort”.

He said this would likely help boost investor confidence in the town.

KSD municipal spokesperson Sonwabo Mampoza described the forum as a good initiative “to keep our areas safe” but urged them to work closely with the municipality, the police, and other law enforcement agencies. He said lawlessness and crime in Mthatha damaged the town’s image.

“If we all work together, we will be able to bring back the confidence of investors and tourists.

“As the mayor [Nelani] said, he wants KSD to be a place where people can live and work — a place they want to invest in.”