KwaZakhele residents march against crime, drugs and undocumented immigrants

Indexed: 2026-05-22

[00:00:00]In the interim, let's bring you this residence in Kwazakhele are expected to take part in a march against crime, drugs, and undocumented immigrants. The community initiative organized under the banner Vukuzenzele will be led by Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate for Action SA Mncwaleni Khumalo. Organizers say the march aims to raise awareness about the impact of crime and substance abuse in local communities. Let's get the latest on the ground with SABC News reporter Andile Ngcobo who joins us now live where the march is taking place. Andile, help us place where you are. And if I suppose in some ways there'll be questions around why it's Action SA's Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate involved in a march in the Eastern Cape.

[00:00:45]Well, a very good morning to you indeed.

[00:00:47]We are out here in the Nelson Mandela Bay in Jouli, one of the most notorious areas here in the province. Well, residents have already gathered saying that they have had enough of things like crime, illegal immigration, as well as drug abuse as that is quite rife in this specific area. Well, crime is not however isolated in this specific area as just last night we heard the news that six people were killed in different areas or different incidents in the Walmer location. But right now, let me bring in the chairperson of the Vukuzenzele organization just to answer some of the questions that you have including the question of why is the Ekurhuleni mayor being part of the Eastern Cape protest. A very good morning to you.

[00:01:30]Let Let's just first talk about the purpose of this march. Why now and why here?

[00:01:36]Thank you very much. I think the purpose of this march is to mobilize the community of Nelson Mandela region to say we are having a problem in our doorstep.

[00:01:47]We are having a problem of crime.

[00:01:50]We are having a problem of drugs. We are having a problem of illegal immigrants.

[00:01:55]Now, as you were saying that this part of the uh of the city is very notorious, especially in our townships. Uh our township is like a war zone.

[00:02:06]Every day people are getting killed.

[00:02:08]Now, as the community leaders, we decided that we must take this thing up and make sure that the community rallies behind everyone of us we get united towards making sure we find a lasting solution. And there won't be any solution without the community members.

[00:02:25]So, that's what we want to to emphasize about this match. And also, we want a working relationship between the community and also the the the the the police the the the the the the the crime-fighting agencies to come to the to the police and have a trusting a a a trusting relationship between the police and the people. So, that's why we mobilized these people and we're hoping that as we go along, like people are going to join us because at the moment people are very afraid to come out to because people get killed. It's not a joke. Some of us that were coming out, we know that we are risking our lives and we know this country was fought by people and people died for this country.

[00:03:09]And we cannot in our lifetime then be able to say we are going to be cowards and be afraid of people that are terrorizing our communities.

[00:03:18]And let's talk about the involvement of people like Mr. Kumalo, who's not a part of the province. Why is he part of this match? You know, the work of Mr. Kumalo uh is very much making us to be brave because Mr. Kumalo has been doing this work of fighting drug dealers alone.

[00:03:40]So, we decided that we are going to join all those people who are doing the good work in the community. So, Mr. Kumalo, we want to make sure that he comes and inspire people of Nelson Mandela region that they must come and be able to take this fight in their hands. Because if we don't do anything, it means that everyone will stay in in his own home and wait for the criminals to attack that person. So, we won't be able to sit down and let the criminals terrorize us.

[00:04:12]Yeah, and it's no secret that we've seen quite a few of similar matches here in the Nelson Mandela Bay and and some residents may even allege that there hasn't been much results uh from that as crime remains relatively high. Uh what is different about Vukuzenzele, you guys, and what are you proposing or what are you going to do uh beyond the actual match?

[00:04:31]As you can see here, you see most of these few guys who are wearing these uh vests, they are community proper patrollers.

[00:04:40]As Vukuzenzele, we mobilize these community community proper patrollers to make sure that they are in the forefront of fight against crime within the whole areas.

[00:04:49]They are doing a sterling work. I know some of them, I work with them, you know? Because what needs to happen is that we need a partnership. Without that partnership with community structures and and and the police, there won't be any solution.

[00:05:05]So, as Vukuzenzele, we are starting a revolution today, you know? Because all what is going to happen, we're going to roll out this program to other areas.

[00:05:15]Coming here in Kwazakhele, going to New Brighton is just a start.

[00:05:19]But where we are going, we're going to Korsten.

[00:05:22]We're going to Central. We're going to CBD.

[00:05:25]We are going to make sure that these places where they think they are untouchable, we're going to go there as community members.

[00:05:32]Our first job is going to be Korsten, where we know that phones are get robbed there in the township, then they are sold in Korsten with exchange of guns.

[00:05:41]The guns that are killing our people here.

[00:05:44]Thank you so much, sir. Well, you you might recall that uh the New Brighton, which is where uh New Brighton police station, which is where they are marching to, recorded uh some of the highest murder uh reports uh in this past uh stats SC report. Uh so, uh he says that he's going to try uh and bring something different to what the organization that is uh they have brought so far, patrolas, and they're rolling out provinces up in it's um more people across the province uh to make sure that, you know, they don't just speak, uh but they push towards a better direction in terms of resolving the crime situation here in the Nelson Mandela Bay and uh throughout the province. But, right now, from myself and Andiswa Ngonji and colleague Govan Mhlom, it's back to you in studio. All right, Andiswa, thanks very much indeed for that reporting. We'll certainly keep up with that march with you throughout the course of the day. Andiswa Ngonji reporting live there from Kabega in the Eastern Cape.