Katlego Sekhu

Despite strong promises from Police Minister Bheki Cele to address issues in Riverlea, residents express skepticism about meaningful change. Community activist Nomaan Mubarak revealed that if promises are not fulfilled, residents are ready to take to the streets to demand accountability.
This morning on 959 Breakfast, listeners shared their troubling experiences with the South African police. Sol Phenduka recounted a harrowing incident in 2016 when criminals blocked the streets with tree trunks, leading to a robbery. Phenduka’s desperate call to 10111 for assistance was met with questions rather than immediate action.
In 2016, I was driving on the freeway, and criminals blocked the streets with tree trunks. I drove over them. My car broke down at the intersection, and the guys came, smashed my window, and robbed me of all my possessions. I tried calling 10111, and the response I got was, ‘Why were you driving over these things?’ I got asked so many questions instead of getting ‘Wait, the cops are coming and you will be getting assistance.’
“The cops came after two hours. They were nonchalant about everything. I was not happy. There was no sense of urgency. They made me feel like I had interrupted their sleep. People just want cops to do their jobs. If they do their jobs correctly, we don’t need the minister to give an address,” expressed Phenduka.



