Amaoti residents in the north of Durban have reiterated calls for the SANDF to be deployed to the area. Earlier this week, six community members were shot and killed in separate incidents, allegedly by members of a notorious gang from the area. Residents protested to express their frustrations and anger against what they say is the failure of
Residents protested to express their frustrations and anger against what they say is the failure of police to deal with crime in the area.
Local schools did not open due to the protest.
Following this at a meeting with business over crime, provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi defended the community’s concerns against police.
[WATCH] Angry community members from Amaoti, north of Durban, are demanding the deployment of the army following the killings of six people earlier this week. Residents held an urgent meeting with police from Inanda. SABC News reporter Simphiwe Makhanya has more. pic.twitter.com/zrK7euT26x
— SABC News (@SABCNews) March 13, 2025
Residents believe the presence of SANDF will bring the much-needed relief.
“There are few police here at Maoti and we need soldiers, not police! If these criminals shoot, they shoot even our children. We are here to work not to be killed,” says one of the residents.
Another resident says, “We, as parents, sometimes don’t do justice. We protect these criminals. Police must go to the families of these criminals as they are known and this is the only way of getting them. We are not safe at all. Anything can happen from today.”
The Amaoti residents allege that some criminals pose as police officers.
“How are we going to be free of criminals (who) arrive wearing police uniform? How are we going to trust police and where do they get police uniform? If you open the door, they shoot you. How are going to be safe?” asked a concerned resident.
Responding to the community’s pleas, Brigadier Themba Msimango, has appealed to residents to work with them to make a dent on crime.
“Police will come with the strategy to deal with crime in the area and there is no area where police cannot search and we are not afraid of these criminals. But I call on the community to help us deal with them as police don’t know these criminals. You will help us identify them and tell us where they stay. Once you have done that, we will arrest them,” says Msimango.
BREAKING: Shooting incident in Amaoti, KwaZulu-Natal
Original Story by www.sabcnews.com
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