Police Minister Bheki Cele has announced that a specialised police force, made up of members of the Tactical
Response Team (TRT) and National Intervention Unit (NIU), will be deployed to
Majola villages in Port St Johns within 72 hours.
Cele made the remarks during his two-day visit to the
conflict-stricken area of Majola in Port St Johns on April 30 and May 1.
He was accompanied by National Police Commissioner
General Fanie Masemola and Eastern Cape Community Safety and Liaison MEC Xolile
Nqatha.
Cele says his office will also write to President
Cyril Ramaphosa to authorise the deployment of the South African National
Defence Force (SANDF) members to the Majola area in line with calls made by
community members and traditional leaders in the area.
The ongoing conflict in Majola villages is reported to
have claimed 22 lives.
In the most recent incident, two high school learners
were fatally shot at Siqhozameni Locality in the Majola Administrative Area in
what is believed to be connected to the ongoing conflict.
“Majola
village cannot be a ghost town where villagers are terrorised by thugs and fear
for their lives to such an extent that they opt to live in bushes than in their
own homes. We will put an end to this, hence we are bringing some of our best
men and women to bring stability and peace to this village, as we wait to hear
if the army will be deployed or not.
“With more boots in the ground, we will go
toe-to-toe with these criminals who are hellbent on preying on the most
vulnerable members of our society,” Cele said.
Cele said plans to build a police station in the
area were ongoing.
