Bheki Cele fails to fulfil his promises to Stilfontein residents

by Thys Khiba
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#PoliceMinistry Police Minister Gen Bheki Cele & @HomeAffairsSA Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi & National Commissioner Gen Masemola are at this hour providing feedback to #Diepsloot community members following a 5 hour long #DiepslootIntervention meeting with community leaders. TM

By Thys Khiba – The Minister of Police, Bheki Cele has failed to fulfil his promises to the ‘unprotected’ and ‘unsafe’ residents of Stilfontein by not returning to them with answers to some of their concerns in two weeks. 

On the 11 October 2022, Cele vowed to return to the community of the Matlosana Local Municipality after two weeks for an Imbizo, which will address crime and illegal mining related concerns. 

“Two weeks won’t be a very long time to come back and meet the community in full force,” said Cele. 

Cele was addressing community leaders outside the Stilfonteinpolice station moments before he made his way to an abandoned mineshaft where at least 20 illegal miners were arrested. 

The other suspect (21) who is accused of allegedly transporting food and goods to the illegal miners while on site, was arrested at his home.

The Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale confirmed they have found fifteen (15) AK-47s, six (6) hunting rifles, two (2) shotguns and one (1) R5, boxes full of ammunition, explosives and an undisclosed amount of money during the operation.

“The operation follows weeks of surveillance into the alleged illegal mining activities of the suspects resulting in the arrest of twenty (20) suspects,” said said Mogale. 

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Bheki Cele fails to fulfil his promises to Stilfontein residents 7

Some affected residents told Cele about their concerns, including cable theft. While addressing the minister of police, they also made allegations against local police officials, claiming they are in cahoots with illegal miners. 

The arrested suspects made their first court appearance on Wednesday, 12 October 2022. 

The matter has been postponed to 21 November 2022 for further bail hearing.

At the time of publishing this article, Free State Central News couldn’t get a response from the office of Minister Bheki Cele.

CENTRAL NEWS

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