We must therefore ask how prepared is our law enforcement machinery to stay ahead of the curve and to help avoid unnecessary bloodshed and more death?
VELI NHLAPO
They grabbed young men believed to be zama-zamas, stripped them naked, lined them up on the side of the road and beat them up. Then police were called to come and pick them up. Officials say one person died while some members of the community put the figure at three. More illegal miners were arrested and heavy weapons confiscated. The uprising by these residents is retaliation against the terror communities are subjected to by illegal miners, many of whom are undocumented foreigners who have unleashed unspeakable brutality on locals for several years.
Not only have they been tormented relentlessly by these gangs, the police have been unable to protect them, let alone push back against organised crime in any meaningful way. However, with tensions so high, we are mindful that there is a thin line between communities standing up against crime, helping law enforcement to bring criminals to book and actually committing acts of vigilantism that can only lead to the situation spiralling out of control.
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