On Friday evening the Community Policing Forum (CPF) held a moral regeneration meeting at Noluthando Hall in Joza. The purpose of the meeting was to encourage the community and church leaders to pray and work together with the police in the fight against crime.
On Friday evening the Community Policing Forum (CPF) held a moral regeneration meeting at Noluthando Hall in Joza. The purpose of the meeting was to encourage the community and church leaders to pray and work together with the police in the fight against crime.
Colonel Tallman Sawuti of the Grahamstown police said, “There is no honesty in communities and there is nothing that destroys the community more than alcohol and drugs.
If we are ruled by the name of Christ we will the fight against crime. Truth and honesty is very important.” “Nowadays animals behave much better, people don’t have morals any more,” said Warrant Officer Siyabulela Titi.
He cited an example of a man who was brutally murdered in Extension 9 and how people who witnessed the incident refused to submit evidence.
Another example raised by Titi was how an old woman was accused of practising witchcraft and was brutally assaulted.
Patrick Hewana from the Methodist Church of Africa said, “Criminals have got nothing to keep them busy, they have a lot of time on their hands to plan and commit these crimes.”
A church leader who did not want to be named said “Some members of the church have a weird tendency of stealing church property.”
He said that at his church a clock and the communion wafers and wine have been stolen. School vandalism is another problem which came up in the meeting.
Sawuti said “Back in the days when I used to be a learner we were so proud of our school we took care of it because it provided education for us, I don’t know what has gotten into the kid’s heads nowadays.”
Sergeant Nomaxabiso Magula spoke about the issue of domestic violence and encouraged people to report such crimes to the police and not to be ashamed or embarrassed about it.
Siphiwo Mqubuli, one of the community members said that the justice system is the fault but the police are doing a great job.
“Criminals are released and when they come out they threaten us, this is one of the reasons why people don’t want to be witnesses in court,” Mqubuli added.
