On his second visit, which was to the memorial service of the late Courtney Pieters, 3, the Minister assured people that their request for a Satellite Police Station would be fulfilled.
On Thursday, he handed over the Mobile Community Service Centre, which will be an addition to the already existing Elsies River cop shop.
Police Minister Fikile Mbalula hands over a mobile police station as promised to the community. CREDIT: Enrico Jacobs
He also reiterated his declaration of war on skollies, and those who abuse women and children.
“Criminals must know, we are going to deal with them,” he told the cheering crowd.
Mbalula was greeted by pupils of Clarke Primary School at the Adriaanse Hall, who performed a small play for him, depicting violence and gangsterism on the Cape Flats.
Cadets from Elsies River High school also put up a performance for the minister, who was joined by Western Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula.
Three weeks ago, 13 residents were shot in one street in the area. Three of the victims aged, 17, 37 and 50 were killed.
On 13 May, the broken body of little Courtney was found buried in a shallow grave on a field at Bofors Circle, Epping Industria, just a few kilometers from her Pluto Street home from where she disappeared nine days earlier.
Mortimer Saunders, 40, her father’s friend who had been boarding with them, has been arrested and charged with kidnapping, two counts of rape and murder.
Residents told the Daily Voice they needed to take two taxis or hire a car to get to the police.
“When I came here kids were shot and when Courtney died, the community said the police take (a long) time to respond,” Mbalula said.
“Those who think they are protected by the law and are in the deep pockets of the police, we will find them.
“They must understand it is not going to be business as usual, but business unusual.”
He also had harsh words for women, urging them to leave abusive relationships.
“I’ve said to the police, no police station must turn a woman away.
“Once a boyfriend klaps you, you must run away, (because) once you allow him to klap you every week, (it will continue) up until you see death.
“I want to say, once someone moers you, that person doesn’t love you.”
The community welcomed the new police station saying they had enough of the bloodshed.
Mother of three, Zaida Solomons, 29, says she has been living 11 years in Clarke Ëstate and worries about her children being caught in a crossfire: “‘ Two of my children go to school, I am very worried about them, I have to walk with them to school.
“The small children who are supposed to be at school, are gangsters themselves. They rob the other children.
“Having this mobile police station here will give me some peace.”