A church leader in Westbury, Johannesburg, is calling on key role players within the criminal justice system to urgently rebuild the trust of the community following a violent altercation between residents and law enforcement.
Pastor Mello du Plessis raised the concern after members of a police anti-gang unit were attacked by residents during the arrest of a suspect found in possession of drugs.
According to Du Plessis, the incident underscores deep-rooted frustrations within the community, where many residents no longer co-operate with police investigations due to fear of retaliation from criminals.
“People are afraid to assist the police because they know the suspects will be back on the streets within days,” he said. “Most of these individuals are repeat offenders who face little to no consequences.”
Du Plessis stressed the need for coordinated discussions among all stakeholders, particularly the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), whom he believes is vital in ensuring that arrests lead to actual prosecutions.
“We have roundtable discussions from time to time, but the right people aren’t always present,” he explained. “The NPA needs to be involved, because residents see suspects arrested by SAPS one day and walking free the next. This undermines confidence in the police and fuels the perception that law enforcement is ineffective or even complicit.”
The pastor’s remarks come amid growing tensions in the crime-ridden community, where gang violence and drug-related crime remain persistent challenges.