The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga has written to the MEC of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Jacky Macie, urging him to provide more personnel and resources to curb the crimes and murders reported in the last 3 months in Pienaar Township outside Mbombela.
In the last three weeks alone, four bodies, including a 37-year-old woman and three children between the ages of 3 and 16, where found burnt or either buried in shallow graves around Pienaar Township. At least four suspects have since been arrested for these murders.
The latest victim, yet to be identified, was found just last night (10 July 2024) in the Pienaar area burnt beyond recognition. It is estimated that she is 15-year-old. According to information, no one has yet been arrested for this murder and police are on the scene looking for clues.
The DA notes with serious concern these murders and we have approached MEC Macie in order for him to put pressure on the Provincial Police Commissioner’s office to prioritise and declare Pienaar Township a crime hotspot and provide additional resources in order to curb the number of violent crimes that are being committed in the area. The blatant disregard for human life is concerning and needs urgent and decisive measures to be taken.
Community members in Pienaar are currently living in fear, and they reported that they can’t even sleep at night and are scared now even to allow their kids to go play outside due to the current situation.