The spotlight once again fell on rising crime and the lack of safety and security in the Govan Mbeki Local Municipality during a recent oversight visit by the Mpumalanga Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and subsequent public hearings.
Residents made it clear that they no longer feel safe in their own neighbourhoods, while both the Municipality and the police are failing to fulfil their duty of ensuring a safe environment.
The latest data and oversight reports for 2025/2026 indicate a sharp increase in residential burglaries and contact crimes, particularly in Embalenhle and Bethal, while Secunda and Evander are plagued by property-related crime and infrastructure vandalism.
The Municipality itself is exacerbating the crisis by neglecting basic service delivery. Only a small portion of the funds earmarked for maintenance has been spent, consequently, residential areas are unsafe as streetlights are broken, parks are overgrown and green belts have become dangerous.
The Community Safety Forum, led by the Mayoral Committee Member for Community Safety, L. Simelane, has not convened a single meeting in a year. Her absence from the public hearings on 23 April 2026 further underscores the lack of accountability and leadership.
The Municipality should urgently restore basic safety measures. Repairing streetlights and maintaining public spaces should be prioritised to prevent the crime crisis from escalating.
Matters are bound to get worse without targeted intervention and accountable leadership, ultimately affecting the entire region’s socio-economic stability.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) will keep applying pressure in the Portfolio Committee on Community Safety to ensure the Municipality fulfils its obligations towards residents.
