Zims tackle crime in SA

Speaking at the launch of the programme of action on crime prevention in Yeoville recently the ward 67 councillor, Mamodupi Mohlala, commended Zimbabweans for coming up with such an initiative.
“I commend you for coming up with such a programme to fight crime here which has caused hatred between South African community and foreign nationals. I was once a refugee in Zimbabwe for eight years and I see it as my duty to see that your stay here is pleasant, but being a victim of crime from Zimbabweans myself, I wonder whether to accommodate you as my fellow brothers and sisters or not. Everybody who has mugged me speaks Ndebele not Shona,” said Mohlala.
“It’s no secret Zimbabweans are causing mayhem in the streets of Johannesburg. No one is safe any more, it doesn’t matter what time of the day it is the criminals just pounce. We want our country to be a better place to live in and I support your initiative,” she said.
The councillor went on to urge Zimbabweans to change their criminal activities and do good in order to be accepted by the SA community. They should not demand respect but should earn it by changing their deeds, she said.
The organisers plan to engage law-abiding Zimbabweans to caution their compatriots, working on the premise that “it takes a thief to catch a thief”.
Lawyers for human rights representative Jacob van Garderen said although Zimbabweans were blamed for masterminding of every crime in SA the research proves otherwise.
Rodgers Mutarikwa, the MDC-SA branch organising secretary, said Mugabe was more to blame than anyone else.
“Mugabe is to blame for all the crimes taking place here, South Africa should tell him to stop training the Green Bombers who later come here and commit crimes. Most Zimbabweans don’t have military training,” he said.
“There is no shop in Zimbabwe that sells guns over the counter, it is here that there are guns all over and every individual including the police want to get rich quickly. There is need for both communities to join hands in fight against crime,” said another Zimbabwean. – Magugu Nyathi