PARENTS should not pay bail for their criminal offspring, said Mpumalanga’s safety and security MEC, Steve Mabona, on Sunday.
Speaking at a prayer meeting called to address rising crime in townships near Nelspruit, he said parents who bailed out their children merely encouraged crime.
“Parents and relatives who pay bail for criminals are encouraging those criminals to be more active in criminal activities,” he explained.
Hundreds of residents attended the meeting to address an approximate 100% increase in crime in the townships since last year. Mabona expressed shock at the figures.
Chairperson of the Kanyamazane Community Policing Forum, Vusi Mnisi, said that last year, an average of 200 crimes a month were reported in Kanyamazane and Pienaar.
Since January, this has almost doubled to about 400 cases a month, he said.
He said a recognised CPF would be launched in Pienaar soon.
MEC Mabona said he was aware of three illegal tollgates where jobless thugs are charging men R100 fee to use roads in Msogwaba and Kanyamazane.
One man was stabbed 13 times when he could not pay last month. Women are charged R70 and several have been raped for not being able to pay.
Mabona said police were investigating and urged the public to work with the police and report crimes.
— African Eye News Service, June 6, 2000.