A highly-trained tactical response team will arrive in Ngcobo in eight days’ time to help fight the high rate of crime in the area.
This was said by police minister Bheki Cele, who spoke at the Ngcobo police station at a commemoration for the five police officers who were gunned down at the station on February 21 2018.
“The community made the request [for a specialised tactical response team] after the funerals [of the five slain officers last year]. We have trained them. They are ready.”
However, the minister refused to divulge how many members would be deployed to Ngcobo, saying he did not want to alert criminals.
The members will be deployed to Ngcobo on a permanent basis.
“They will work in the whole cluster and move to other police stations.”
Addressing more than 200 people who attended the event, including the relatives of the five murdered officers, residents of Ngcobo, religious leaders and traditional leaders, Cele said Ngcobo had one of the highest crime rates in the province.
Although he did not provide crime statistics, he said the area had high murder, rape, housebreaking and stock theft rates.
“The police unit you asked for is coming. Amabharethi will be here on the first [The berets TRT] will be here on March 1,” he promised.
He said some improvements had been done at the Ngcobo police station, including the installation of close-circuit television cameras, an electric fencing and an intercom system.
He also acknowledged that South Africa had a a shortage of police officers.
In the Eastern Cape there was also a shortage of visible police and detectives, but his office was trying to address this as thousands of new police officers were being recruited every year.
Cele, who was joined by Eastern Cape provincial transport safety & liaison MEC Weziwe Tikana, unveiled a wall of remembrance bearing the names and faces of the five dead police members: Constables Kuhle Mathetha, 27, of Cofimvaba, Zuko Ntsheku , 38, of Ngcobo, Nkosiphendule Pongco, 32, of Ngqeleni, Sibongiseni Sandlana, 32, of Qunu near Mthatha and Warrant Officer Zuko Mbini, 45, of Zimbane Valley in Mthatha.
Off-duty soldier, Freddy Mpandeni was also killed.
Six suspects, including one of the so-called “seven angels” from the controversial Mancoba’s Angels Ministry Church, were arrested.
While some of the relatives of the slain officers put on brave faces during the ceremony, others could not contain their emotions and sobbed uncontrollably.
Cele consoled the families, saying they should walk tall as their names would not be forgotten through the ultimate sacrifice made by their children.
He also warned criminals that police would not be intimidated into backing off from doing their work.
SA Police Union’s Mzonke Joxo told Cele and Tikana that the swift arrest of the six suspects was little consolation.
“It’s over a year now and there is not a single conviction. Our courts should show no mercy.”
Popcru deputy provincial chair Bongiwe Mchithwa said Ngcobo only had 108 police officers when it needed 142...