‘I feel pain’ – Cele concerned as Olievenhoutbosch slam lack of policing in area

Community members told Police Minister Bheki Cele that law enforcement officers are working hand-in-hand with criminals and are known to take bribes from illegal businesses.

Cele was in the area for a ministerial imbizo on Monday morning.

The imbizo is meant to find solutions to the crime problem in Olievenhoutbosch.

One of the residents told Cele that if police fail to bring crime under control in the area, community members have no choice but to take matters in their own hands.

The myriad of complaints prompted Cele to express concern at the fact that police in Olievenhoutbosch received no praise from community members.

"I feel pain. I go to these Imbizos in many places, two weeks we were in Zandspruit, Honeydew and people arose issues about police but some would say there are some that work hard.

"But I here I didn't hear one person say that... it just pains me to say not a single police was found in order because he or she was doing her work.”

Cele admitted that there is an urgent need to back stability to the local police station.

Cele urged law enforcement to bring finality to the close to 1 800 unsolved cases.

"It there are 1800 unsolved cases, which means you have more than 1000 criminal that kills, rob, and, then goes sleep at home.

"We are not ready to deal with crime in this area if we have so many unsolved crime," said Cele.