Democratic Alliance shadow minister of Police, Andrew Whitfield, recently spoke up about the rampant crime in Nelson Mandela Bay, and the violent nature thereof.
Whitfield mentioned that the recent killings of four people in KwaDwesi could have been prevented if the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, had acted on a DA letter requesting urgent intervention last month.
“We requested that SAPS deploy specialist resources to deal with the ongoing killings and violent crime in Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB). It is clear, however, that the lives of the people in NMB are not a priority for Minister Cele, as he has not even bothered to respond to the letter sent on October 2, 2023.”
Whitfield further stated that there have been several mass killings across the Bay this year, while other categories of violent crime affect every corner of the metro.
“If Minister Cele were truly committed to reducing the violent crime in the city, he would deploy the necessary resources and bring the full force of the law to bear against these violent criminals,” Whitfield concluded.
Meanwhile, Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene, recently called on the community of KwaDwesi to assist police in speedily tracing the suspects involved in the tragic and heinous mass shooting that left four people dead and one injured.
According to police information, it is alleged that the injured male was dropped off by his friend at his house in Sikhundla Street, in KwaDwesi.
Gunshots were heard, and when the victim was in his yard he was approached by two suspects who opened his front door and shot him inside his house.
He sustained bullet wounds to his arm and chest and was taken to hospital for treatment.
While in a shack at the back of another house in Sikhundla Street, the bodies of four people (three males and a female), aged between 19 and 24-years-old, were found with gunshot wounds.
“In both incidents the suspects were the same. The motive is yet to be established. The Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit in Gqeberha is investigating a case of murder and attempted murder. Anyone who can assist with any information relating to the suspects is asked to contact D/Capt Monde Sitole on 082 457 2812 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111, or the nearest police station,” said Colonel Priscilla Naidu of the SAPS.
Mene sent a resounding message that such acts will not be tolerated and appealed to the community to stand together with police as “we relentlessly pursue the suspects. The perpetrators of this appalling crime are still at large and our team of investigators are already on the ground hunting for the suspects. The assistance of the community is crucial in helping us piece together the events that led to this tragedy,” she pleaded.
