Cele deploys Amaberethe to Riverlea amid anti-crime protests

Residents took to the streets to call for an end to illegal mining after five bodies were found following an alleged gun battle between rival zama zama groups operating in the area.

Cele has promised a response to the community’s concerns within 24 hours.

“The police, at a top level, led by General Zulu, must come here toe-to-toe with the criminals.”

Residents have demanded the government’s immediate intervention, saying they live in constant fear due to the constant ringing of gunshots in their neighbourhood.

They jeered at the minister when he mentioned the local Langlaagte police station, which they say has failed to address crime.

Cele promised the immediate deployment of the Tactical Response Team (TRT), also known as the ‘Amaberethe’, to flush out the criminals.

“There are amaberethe that we are leaving here, but that’s not the end. We’ll reinforce them. We need to find these guys where they are. We need to flush them out of their holes and make sure they know not to interfere with the community.”

This was not the first time the police minister had responded with similar intervention in a community plagued by violent crime.

Last month, the community of Diepsloot protested over the growing number of robberies and murders in the area, while lamenting the police’s commitment and capacity to deal with the problem.

In 2022, the minister deployed resources, which included members of the TRT, detectives and vehicles, to the area. However, community leaders – who were demanding the audience of President Cyril Ramaphosa while calling for a permanent solution to their service delivery woes – said not much had changed since then.

Cele also made the same promises to the communities of Pimvillle and Kliptown last year, following the shooting death of Kgomotso Diale at the Chicken Farm informal settlement.

At the time, the minister told protesting residents that a team of 12 detectives had been assembled to investigate the 44-year-old's death.

Opposition parties have criticised Cele and accused him of failing to run the police ministry, leaving South African to fend for themselves.

But the minister’s called for levelheadedness, saying the situation affects everyone regardless of their political affiliation.

“When these criminals come here, they don’t ask for your political card. So, it’s important that we fight as people.

Hold me on my word that here we are going to change the situation and make sure that zama zamas give the space to the people of this community – starting from Zamimpilo to Riverlea.”

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