Security guard murder heightens Selepa fears

Pini Bothoko | Wednesday October 28, 2015 15:19

The suspects in the case are believed to have stolen P100,000 in cash and at least P200,000 in airtime cards from the building he was guarding.

During a kgotla meeting on Monday – a day after the murder – residents told their area legislator, Buti Billy, that crime was overwhelming police in Selepa.

Residents said the crime usually occurred during the day when they are at work but also at night as thieves break into their homes and steal their properties.

Members of the community said the police were slow to respond to cases and when they did eventually respond, it was difficult to trace the culprits.

Residents, whose estate is on the outskirts of the city, pleaded with their MP to consider installing streetlights or tower lights as criminals are taking advantage of the dark to break into their homes.

“We have long asked for streetlights to be installed in the area but there is no hope that we will ever be assisted in the near future,” said Clifford Masunga, a Selepa resident.

“We stay in darkness and the situation gets worse during winter. Just imagine when your neighbour is attacked at night and you have to go out and assist them in that darkness. We fear for our lives.”

Another resident, Sheila Ndlovu, shared Masunga’s sentiments and said Kutlwano Police Station, where Selepa presently reports to, is too far away. She pleaded with the authorities to plan for a police post in their location.

“Crime is high here and when we report cases, police take time to attend. Thieves tend to relax when they strike knowing that police will fail to trace and arrest them on time,” said Ndlovu.

For his part, Billy said the streetlights are budgeted for under the Urban Development Plan IV which was discussed recently at the Francistown City Council.

He encouraged residents to form a neighbourhood watch and fight crime in their location, adding that similar crime rates in other areas had been slashed due to the intervention.

“The police alone cannot fight criminals, but the assistance of the public can go a long way towards eliminating crime,” he said.

Inspector Saaka Nsimbi of Kutlwano Police also encouraged residents to form a community neighbourhood watch that could assist them in fighting crime.

“We also have an operation named, ‘Sweep Selepa’ in which we intend to fight crime in this location and we need your support as the community,” said Nsimbi.