A climate of fear has gripped the community of Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg, as residents report escalating violent crime, including gangsterism in schools, murder, rape, and gender-based violence.
The situation has reached a critical point, with community members citing a severe lack of police visibility and responsiveness as a key factor allowing crime to flourish. Concerns were highlighted following recent violent incidents, including two murders in the past two weeks within the Extension One area and an attempted murder where a victim remains in intensive care.
Community spokesperson/resident Thami Sikhakhane outlined the dire circumstances. “The crime is very riotous every day. Police visibility is very less. We can’t see police,” he stated. Sikhakhane reported that police response is consistently delayed, arriving “very late” after crimes are committed.
The crisis extends beyond the streets and into local schools, where incidents of gangsterism have led to stabbings among learners. Sikhakhane also confirmed the pervasive presence of gangs and drug dealers, alleging that police are aware of drug trade locations but take no action.
“We have tried to organize patrollers. I’ve been in a patrolling team. We have tried but if we don’t get enough support from the SAPS, then nothing is going to happen,” Sikhakhane explained, expressing the frustration of volunteers in the Community Policing Forum (CPF) who feel unsupported by the South African Police Service.
The community’s efforts to self-patrol are hampered by a lack of resources and official backing. Sikhakhane noted that during a recent 45-minute period on a main road, not a single police vehicle was seen, calling it a “daily issue.”
In response to the surge in violence, Orange Farm community leaders have organized a meeting scheduled for tomorrow in Extension One. The aim is to formulate a unified response to the multifaceted crime problem, which reportedly affects the entire area, including zones known as DIY and other extensions.
The planned meeting underscores a community at a breaking point, seeking solutions and demanding effective intervention from authorities to reclaim their safety and stability.