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The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Village residents living in fear of criminals
Violent crime has gripped Malamulele, where residents fear for their lives as armed criminals continue to terrorise homes and families. Residents of Malamulele near Giyani in Limpopo are living in fear of gun-wielding criminals who attack them in their homes. Recently, community members protested and accused the police of not doing enough to arrest the criminals, who recently shot and killed a 20-year-old young man and raped his 17-year-old sister in Malamulele Extension B. They fled the scene with stolen property including a cellphone, laptop, chainsaw, TV, bicycle and grinder collectively valued at R36 300. Many more housebreakings in Malamulele Authorities said there were many more housebreaking cases reported in the area. Yesterday, Limpopo police provincial commissioner LieutenantGeneral Thembi Hadebe, together with transport and community safety MEC Violet Mathye, visited the area to assess the progress made so far in the fight against crime. 'Crime-related incidents prompted the deployment of multidisciplinary forces in the area to stabilise the situation. The area has experienced a spate of violent crime, including house robberies and other violent incidents in which several homes were targeted,' Hadebe said. ALSO READ: R213m down the drain as Limpopo residents still have no water 'Our team has done a good job as three suspects linked to the recent case were arrested, while 11 other suspects, including foreign nationals, have also been arrested for other crimes committed in the area.' 'We have deployed more officers in Malamulele after realising that crime is on the rise. We have relaunched the Community Policing Forum (CPF) at some of the crime hotspots to make sure that they assist in the fight against crime. 'We are appealing to the community members to join the police as reservists and to be part of the CPF,' he said. Residents under siege Hadebe said the police were doing well to address the situation at Malamulele and neighbouring villages. Several residents who spoke to The Citizen confirmed that they were under siege and they were even afraid to go out on the street at night. 'Things are out of hand here, the crime rate in our area is too high and we are being attacked every day by armed criminals,' said a resident who asked not to be named. ALSO READ: Limpopo's Rain Queen suspends initiation schools in 2025 'People are being raped, killed and robbed of their belongings. 'Every night when we go to sleep, we don't know whether we will make it through the night.' He said the rampant crime in the area started a few years ago when the police started to fight illegal mining in the area. Rampant crime started when police started fighting illegal mining He alleges that most of the criminal activities are committed by foreign nationals and the locals who were involved in illegal mining. 'Since the police interrupted their illegal mining projects, they started to commit crime and terrorise the community members.' Another resident, a single mother, said it was hard for them because every night she feared that they might be attacked by criminals. NOW READ: Daughter pleads guilty to brutal murder of father in Limpopo
The Citizen
4 days ago
- The Citizen
NOT FOR SENSITIVE READERS: Girl on bike ride with brother killed in Meyer Street
NOT FOR SENSITIVE READERS: Girl on bike ride with brother killed in Meyer Street Motorists should please avoid Meyer Street, where a great tragedy unfolded minutes ago when a young girl riding a bicycle with her brother on Meyer Street was struck and killed by a truck. Meyer Street heading towards Kanonkop will be closed for some time for police and forensic specialists to investigate the tragedy. According to an eyewitness who saw the tragedy unfold, she and her husband were watching the brother and sister crossing the street on their bicycles when the truck barrelled towards them. The eyewitness said the truck was speeding and that there was no time to avoid the accident. The witness said the young boy made it onto the pavement, with his sister in tow. The girl, however, could not make it onto the pavement in time before being struck. The truck came to a halt on the pavement, with the girl's body and bike landing in front of it. The eyewitness said that after striking the girl, the truck drove over both her and the bicycle. Her brother rushed to her aid, leaving his blue bicycle just a metre away from his sister's pink one in the street. Bystanders covered the girl's body with a jacket before a Samaritan arrived with a blanket to also cover the girl's exposed feet. The girl's distraught family members arrived on the scene shortly after the accident. Her father is currently in Turkey, and making his way home. Screams of anguish could be heard blocks away as family members gathered. The girl's family are respected members of the CBD's Community Policing Forum (CPF). Crying CPF members are supporting the family on the scene, while the police conduct a thorough investigation. It's currently unclear when Meyer Street will reopen. For now, only the lanes from town towards Kanonkop are affected. Out of respect for the family, photos of the scene have been heavily edited. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
The Citizen
06-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Brave woman's push for change in east through community forum
Brave woman's push for change in east through community forum In the east of Pretoria, where neglected public spaces and slow service delivery have become the norm, a brave woman has taken it upon herself to lead the charge for change. Deirdré van Helsdingen, founding director of a non-profit organisation, the Pretoria East Community Caring Forum (CCF), has become a driving force behind community-led development in Moreleta Park and surrounding suburbs. Van Helsdingen moved to Pretoria in 1985 as a student and remembers a time when the city was well-kept and thriving. According to her, over the years, she witnessed the city's condition decline and finally decided to take action. 'Only later could I see the decay, and that's when I decided to make a difference and started the CCF,' she said. Van Helsdingen said her passion for community upliftment runs deep. For 18 years, she has been actively involved in the Community Policing Forum (CPF), and her work has often gone beyond just volunteering. She said after selling most of her businesses 12 years ago, she took a year-long break and then returned with a renewed focus on civic action. Her former restaurant inside the Moreletakloof Nature Reserve became a space of environmental revival, where she partnered with Nature Conservation to bring wildlife back into the kloof. 'It is now flourishing,' she said. Van Helsdingen said the CCF began as a personal initiative, funding the first few projects herself. She started by addressing visible problems in the community: overgrown grass, eroded sidewalks, and public spaces in disrepair. She said she used to share her work regularly on social media, which attracted public attention and encouraged others to support the cause. 'We grew then, our workers started to operate from Monday to Thursday, and every Friday, I send a Community Performance Report to the City Manager's Office,' she explained. Recent projects include cleaning the area near the 'White House' on behalf of its owner, as well as cutting grass along Rubenstein Drive. The 'White House' is a property near the Plastic View informal settlement that was illegally taken over by squatters recently. Upcoming plans include restoring a neglected corner on De Villebois Mareuil Drive using soil from the Garstfontein Road Widening Project and planting aloes. One of the key aspects of the CCF's growing impact has been its commitment to collaboration. She emphasised that the CCF is not politically affiliated and welcomes partnerships with anyone who shares their goals. 'We are currently working with the DA on a pothole project and are also in communication with AfriForum,' she said. The CCF Group has since been registered as a Community Upliftment Precinct (CUP). It is a project structure, with one central head office overseeing all administrative functions, including human resources and compliance for its growing network of community initiatives. She said that while progress has been steady, encouraging active participation from residents remains a challenge. It's the difficult part. 'Residents already pay rates and taxes for services they don't receive. Some talk about withholding property tax, which isn't legal at the moment, but who knows what the future may bring?' Van Helsdingen said that despite the obstacles, she continues to push forward with a vision of community pride and resilience. She grew up in Sasolburg, a town in the Free State that won awards for being the most beautiful town. That sense of pride in one's environment is something she hopes to revive in Pretoria east. 'When I moved here in 1985, Pretoria was still beautiful,' she reflects. 'Now I want to help bring that beauty back.' Van Helsdingen said the most rewarding part of her work is the consistent growth and positive feedback from residents. 'Every year we grow. People see what we are doing and thank us. I'm proud of every single project,' she said. She said managing the CCF while raising a son in his matric year and maintaining a social life isn't easy, but she finds joy where she can. 'There's no balance really, but I love having a glass of wine at Rosewood Terrace or Rosewood Trails,' she said. Van Helsdingen further added that she has big plans. 'I hope to see the CCF eventually become a fully-fledged City Improvement District (CID), which would allow for compulsory contributions from residents once 80% support is achieved. That's when we can truly make a bigger impact,' she explained. For now, she continues to lead by example, proving that meaningful change in a community doesn't always start at the top. Sometimes, it begins with a single resident who decides not to wait for help, but to become it. To get involved or learn more about the CCF, email moreletapark@ ALSO READ: Emergency services warn households to be vigilant after Nellmapius shack fire Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
The Citizen
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Parkview elects new Sector 1 CPF
Following months of a defunct Community Policing Forum (CPF), residents successfully voted for the Parkview Sector 1 CPF at the Craighall Scout Hall on May 8. Sector 1 includes Parkhurst, Parktown North, Craighall Park, and Dunkeld West. Read more: Parkview will soon see an operational CPF The Parkview Police Station Commander Colonel Nkopane Jacob Mabusela, the Department of Community Safety's Thabo Thipe and the Johannesburg District Community Police Board Secretary-General Mahmood Cassim were also present for Sector 1's voting process. The following residents were elected for Parkview's CPF Sector 1: Chairperson: Theo Joannides. Deputy chairperson: Stephen Kellerman Secretary: Pam Ellenberger Deputy Secretary: Gill Spargo Treasurer: Colin Braude Public relations officer: Matthew Hestenes Thipe said on May 24, there would be a joint meeting where Sector 1 and Sector 2 will meet to elect the CPF mother body which will represent the entire Parkview precinct. Also read: Norwood CPF Sector 1 reflects on five years of transformation and security improvements 'These sectors will also be the supporting structure to the Community Policing Forum,' he added. 'The mother body, among other titles, consists of a chairperson, deputy secretary, deputy public relations officer, treasurer and any other additional members like a patroller coordinator. ' Thipe said that after the 24th, there would be an induction session where the various roles would be assigned and explained. 'We will also examine what the legislations that govern the CPF mean in detail. The last step will consist of both sectors having their fingerprints taken and vetted to ensure that one does not have a criminal record, and then once that step is complete, we will proceed with electing a CPF.' Newly elected Parkview Sector 1 CPF chairperson Theo Joannides said he was keen on being elected because he wanted to be an active citizen in the community and help the police. 'At this point and time, the police are lacking in their public relations department and as community members, we need to bridge that gap and understand that there is a relationship between community involvement and the community police,' he added. Joannides added that it was also important for police to be approachable. 'It cannot be that our community members are victims of crime but don't want to report the crimes. They have to report these crimes for stats purposes and for the police to understand the type of community residents live in.' Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! Related article: Norwood – Dont miss the CPF Sector 1 general public meeting At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
02-05-2025
- The Citizen
Sebokeng SAPS conduct school search operation
SEBOKENG.-The Sebokeng Police recently collaborated with Sector Managers, Community Policing Forum, Youth Crime Prevention Desk, Gauteng Traffic Wardens and Siyabangena Patrollers to conduct a school search operation at Sizanani Secondary School in Zone 13 Sebokeng. Police spokesperson, Sergeant Nthabiseng Mokhachane said that the aim of this operations was to address the learners about, substance abuse, possession of dangerous weapons, gangsterism, bullying, sexual offenses and other crimes that may affect learners. 'The operations will be conducted weekly at random schools in order to make schools safer and crime free. Some learners tend to recruit others to be gang members or introduce them to illegal substances, therefore schools are no longer treated as a place of learning. The Station Commander Brigadier Thembekile Kubone would like to encourage parents to assist the police in anyway possible, and further plead that if parents notice any unusual behavior in their children to contact Sebokeng SAPS Social Crime Prevention for further assistance.' Meanwhile the police urge the community members to participate in various structures of community patrols and to further call Sebokeng SAPS on 082 498 9563, 112, 10111, 08600 10111 or alternatively via MySAPS should there be any information. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
