Concerned communities in the Niani area outside Musina, which have recently been hit hard by crime, have threatened to close all major roads leading to their area. This follows what they call the government’s unwillingness to resolve the issue of crime in their area.

Nearby villages have become a getaway for stolen vehicles and livestock being smuggled to neighbouring Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Residents have already had meetings with Safety and Security MEC Ms Violet Mathye, who made promises to address the issue. They also met with the top management of the Vhembe SAPS last week, where promises were again made to tackle the alarming crime rate in the area.

Local Business Forum Against Crime chairperson Mr Philemon Munyai said the theft of vehicles, which are later smuggled to neighbouring countries, had reached alarming proportions. “We started seeing the movement of luxury cars using undesignated routes through the bushes during Covid, but at that stage, they were cars stolen from other provinces and the villages were used as getaways. The situation has recently changed, and criminals are now focusing on Vhembe,” he said.

Munyai noted that despite meetings with the MEC and all the top brass of the SAPS in Vhembe, nothing seemed to be working despite the promises made. “We are left with no other option as a community. We have made the tough decision to embark on an indefinite strike where we will close all major roads, including the N1. We want the government to listen to us and act against these criminals. Law-enforcement agencies have failed us. We are under siege and not even safe in our homes because these criminals invade homes and demand car keys at any time,” he said.

The decision to block all roads is set for 30 August. Munyai said that everything would come to a standstill during this protest. “If we are not given the attention we need, we will be forced to escalate our plight to the President of the country,” he said.