Virgil James
The recent signing of the Gauteng Safety Agreement on 15 April 2025 at the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto Campus paved the way for a high-level ministerial crime prevention imbizo at Don Mateman Hall in Eldorado Park, Region G, on Friday, 25 April 2025.
The Police Ministry, led by Deputy Minister of Police Cassel Mathale, hosted the event alongside Deputy National Commissioners for Crime Detection and Policing, Lieutenant Generals Shadrack Sibiya and Tebello Mosikili, respectively.
They were joined by Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Councillor Dada Morero, and the City’s MMC for Public Safety, Councillor Mgcini Tshwaku.
The hall was filled with concerned residents, eager to voice their frustrations and engage with national, provincial, and municipal leaders on the growing scourge of crime in their community.
In his opening remarks, Executive Mayor Dada Morero stated: “We are gathered here today at a time when the question of safety is not just a matter of policy, but a matter of survival for the community of Eldorado Park and its surrounds. For far too long, residents have lived in fear — fear of gunshots at night, fear of drug trafficking that ensnares our youth, and fear that the law has become distant and, at times, inaccessible.”
He stressed that the imbizo should not merely be about following protocol but should result in real action to curb criminal activity. “No community can grow, no economy can thrive, and no child can dream safely in an environment riddled with crime,” he said.
Lt-Gen Sibiya said the purpose of the imbizo was to create a meaningful platform for police leadership and communities to engage directly and address crime-related concerns. “This imbizo provides an opportunity to find lasting solutions to issues such as drug abuse, gun and gang violence. One of the key focus areas is community safety, along with the long-term commitment of resources and partnerships to make our neighbourhoods safer. We are here to show what can be achieved when all stakeholders unite behind a common goal.”
During the community engagement session, residents voiced their concerns with urgency and emotion. They spoke of robberies targeting Uber drivers, gang-related violence, the sale of drugs to minors, and children being used to peddle drugs. Many also criticised police corruption, a lack of empathy when reporting crimes, and a general failure to follow up on reported cases.
A resident shared a troubling story: “I have two case numbers from 2024 involving firearms being pointed at me. There’s been no progress because the case dockets went missing while in police hands. How can we trust you to keep us safe?”
A representative from the local Community Police Forum added: “We need police to come out in numbers — not 30 or 40, but 200 or more officers — to be effective and show who is in charge during operations. We risk our lives every day trying to keep this area safe.”
To facilitate more personal engagement, police desks were available inside the hall for private consultations, while information kiosks were set up outside for further support.
