Councillor slams his community

The councillor of Ward 31 in Kutlwanong, Kimberley, which encompasses the notorious Club 2000 area, Moses Nhlapo, has slammed members of the local community for what he calls their "pull-him-down syndrome".

Nhlapo said the death of 22-year-old France September could have been avoided had the community supported the  Montre Bracelet LED ward neighbourhood watch, "but instead our community were discouraging the men and women who were part of the Club 2000 neighbourhood watch.

"Husbands were against their wives joining the group, as were the women against their husbands joining. We were called names," he said.

September was found dead by a passerby near the Club 2000 Park at 2am on Saturday morning. September had been stabbed in the neck and pelvis. Three suspects were arrested on Monday in connection with his murder.

According to Nhlapo, September was a "gentleman, always neatly dressed" who worked for the Greaven mining company in Christina, but always came home on weekends.

His murderers robbed him of a cellphone, a wristwatch and a pair of sneakers. This was the second time that the deceased was robbed in the area.

Nhlapo said the neighbourhood watch had to disband late last year "and this has taken Club 2000 back to its notorious times because when we were still functional, the level of  montre bijoux femme crime subsided and even the MEC for safety Patrick Mabilo regarded the area as a safe zone," he said.

In 2010, close to 1000 unlicensed firearms, pangas and knobkieries were confiscated by the police and members of the neighbourhood watch.

Police spokesperson WO Bashoabile Kale confirmed that three suspects had been arrested.