IFP statement on theft and violence in Soweto

2 August 2023

The IFP is outraged at the recent displays of unflinching theft and violence in Soweto. The alarming rate at which young women continue to lose their lives, and communities are forced to live in fear, is simply unacceptable. Criminals cannot be allowed to instil fear in the hearts and minds of South Africans.

We therefore call on all law enforcement agencies to increase their efforts to protect citizens, especially in township communities.

On Saturday, 29 July 2023, a 26-year-old woman was murdered in Phiri for simply not being romantically interested in someone who offered her and her friends a lift. On Sunday, 30 July 2023, a group of armed suspects blocked access to the Jabulani Police Station, the nearby filling station and the Jabulani Mall, while others proceeded to rob stores such as Food Lover’s Market.

These incidents of lawlessness clearly indicate that criminals do not fear the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other law enforcement agencies. We urge the SAPS to leave no stone unturned in both these investigations and call on the relevant law enforcement agencies to treat these cases with the same urgency employed by these criminals to wreak havoc in our communities.

As the IFP, we wish to convey our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and all those affected by the tragic passing of 26-year-old Mpho Msauli.

The ruthless arrogance of criminals in our country needs to be stifled, as it is every South African’s constitutional right to live in a safe and secure environment. Therefore, we call upon the government to ensure that these criminal elements face the full might of the law.

Issued by Zandile Majozi, IFP Member in Parliament for Police, 2 August 2023