Thembisa women call for danger-zone status amid safety fears

Women residing in the informal settlement of Vusimuzi in Thembisa, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng’s East Rand, are expressing their concerns over safety and demanding their area be classified as a danger zone following the discovery of women's bodies in the metro. The community members feel threatened, particularly during the early hours of the morning until midnight, due to the prevalence of criminal activities.

The residents have reported instances where criminals have targeted their properties, stealing items such as plastics and cellphones, and have even been subjected to threats and physical abuse if they refuse to comply with the criminals' demands. The lack of police presence in the area has exacerbated the precarious situation, as residents claim to see little police visibility.

The tragic death of Boitumelo Mashita, a 23-year-old woman shot and killed in Thembisa on September 28th, allegedly by her estranged husband, has further underscored the urgent need for action. Mashita is the twelfth woman whose body has been found in the last two months within the Ekurhuleni metro area.