Police statistics are out, but for those at the coalface of crime, police and prosecutors at the Protea Magistrate’s Court, Soweto, the case roll makes for all too familiar reading.
By noon on Thursday prosecutors had enrolled three rape cases, 19 cases of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, seven possession of dagga and four theft.
No murder case was enrolled, something a court official said is a rarity
for cases following a public holiday. There was, however, one unsuccessful attempt to kill someone.
Other ”public holiday or weekend crimes”, such as reckless and negligent driving and domestic violence, were enrolled. Cases that should go to court soon include one of child abandonment, one of possession of suspected stolen goods and three of illegal possession of firearms.
A court official sounded a cautionary note: ”These are not all the offences that were committed. There are many more. This [cases that reach court] is simply where there was a suspect or where the prosecutors did not decline to prosecute.”
Despite the gloom and doom from police and prosecutors, residents say the situation is looking up.
In Orlando, Soweto, the local community policing forum (CPF) secretary Zanele Moeti said that collaboration between the community and the police has started to bear fruit.
”Last week members of the patrol group arrested five boys who had been terrorising people going to work in the morning.
”The gang, armed with a pump [shot] gun, robbed people on their way to taxi ranks and bus stops.
”But because the community knows who they are they were able to arrest them. We have similar patrol groups in Orlando West, Mzimhlophe and Dube,” said Moeti.
She said most crimes have stabilised, but the large numbers involving domestic violence remain a concern.
Moeti attributed the relative success in the local fight against crime to the CPF’s holding of regular public meetings, and talking to local business people to hear what their concerns are.
”We also go on door-to-door campaigns, where we give the community safety hints such as not to answer their cellphones in the streets or to avoid places they know are unsafe.”
Moeti said the CPF uses local community radio stations and newspapers to spread information on meetings or to give safety hints.
”One of the inhibiting factors is that many of our reservists are still not trained. It is a slow process, but we encourage more community members to join patrol groups.”
Soweto CPF Area Board spokesperson Sechaba Khumalo said though the board is happy with the reduction of crime, particularly violent offences, in the township, ”we will only be happy when Soweto is totally crime-free, when any person can walk the streets at any time without fear for their safety”.
Khumalo said the Soweto shebeeners have been taken on board because drinking holes were usually the market for stolen goods.
And former convicts can help local patrols because of their knowledge of criminal behaviour and also to show that they were indeed rehabilitated.
”The challenge we are still facing is that we still have elements within our communities who are protecting criminals,” said Khumalo.
”Some parents are not playing their part and glorify crime by saying that their children baya phanda [they are eking a living].
”They may not be crime victims today, but tomorrow they will be.”