Violent crime remains an ever-present threat in South Africa. This is according to anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee. Abramjee has called on communities to work with the police to combat crime.Since the start of lockdown last year there has been an increase in cash in transit heists, business robberies, house break- ins and gender-based violence.
The prevalence of violence and crime has long been one of South Africa’s major challenges. In an exclusive interview Abramjee told Gauteng News that housebreaking has consistently been the most common crime experienced by households in SA.
“We are seeing increase in other violence crime as well and business robberies and house invasion. They could also be attributed to the poor state of the economy. Criminals are greedy, while other people works hard for the money, they want to make quick bucks but generally we are seeing even hijacking on the increase,”
Abramjee urged the public to assist law enforcement to eradicate crime.
“Most certainly we cannot expect the police to fight crime alone, it’s a responsibility of every citizen to help and to join hands with the law enforcement and create safer environment. We have to become eyes and ears for the law enforcement agencies, someone somewhere, somehow knows whose involve in crime or wrong doing,”
He encouraged members of the community to blew the whistle by calling the crime stop number anonymously on 086 001 0111.
“You can also use my SAPS app that’s a very user friendly and pass information so that we can get these criminals arrested. We must make it our moral and our civic duty to blow the whistle on crime whether it’s people in your family, neighbourhood, your town, city or suburbs,”
Abramjee acknowledged the involvement of Community Police Forums (CPF) and urged community members to support them.
“Support your community police forums these forums plays a major role and in partnership between South African police service and the public is critical. We must work as a community to make sure that we engage the police and work very constructively in reclaiming our streets and neighbourhood.”
