Bergville community peace forum blames poor police resources for rampant crime in area
On Saturday, seven members of the Khoza family were attacked by one of their own, Mlawuli Khoza, who killed five of them instantly.
Picture: @SAPoliceService/X
BERGVILLE - The community peace forum in Bergville, where five people were killed in KwaZulu-Natal over the weekend, has blamed the lack of police resources for the rampant crime rate in the area.
On Saturday, seven members of the Khoza family were attacked by one of their own, Mlawuli Khoza, who killed five of them instantly.
Despite a manhunt launched by police over the weekend, he was caught by the community.
Khoza appeared in the Bergville Magistrates Court on Tuesday, but the matter was adjourned for Wednesday.
[WATCH] The accused Mlamuli Mlondi Khoza appears in court for killing 5 of his family members, he is charged with 5 courts of murder and 2 counts of attempted. @_NMabaso pic.twitter.com/yOyqcSnEeH
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) October 15, 2024
Community members in the rural Bergville town said they had to use their own cars to catch the accused on Saturday.
They said their local police station was in a poor state and fails to fight crime due to a lack of resources.
"We have been short-staffed with manpower at the police station, as well as vehicles," said the community peace forum’s Tyrone Tozer.
"As you would know, we are 3,000 square kilometres with only two vehicles. Last month, we had one vehicle covering the whole area."
The forum has called on the government to intervene in terms of resources in the area.
Provincial government authorities said they would bring the matter to the attention of the premier and the legislature.