Families of slain patrollers in Marry Me informal settlement cannot be compensated, Councillor says

The local councillor of the Marry Me informal settlement in Soshanguve, Tshepo Malefane, said tighter controls were needed to regulate community patrollers.

Malefane’s comments come six months after patrollers were attacked by another group in a brutal incident in the area. Six people were killed in what is believed to have stemmed from an alleged altercation between community patrollers and the attackers.

While Malefane admits it was a mistake to allow unregistered patrollers to operate in the area, he said high levels of crime have pushed residents into a corner.

The councillor also said a new team of patrollers has not yet been assigned to the settlement.

“The biggest mistake we made was allowing patrollers to patrol without following the correct processes. As and when they patrol, they must register with SAPS. There must be an attendance register that records when they arrive and when they leave. It’s a lengthy process that we need to follow to the letter,” Malefane said.

He added that the families of the victims cannot be compensated for being injured or killed on duty because the patrollers were not officially employed by the Department of Community Safety.

The provincial government, which covered a portion of the funeral costs for the six slain patrollers, said it was also prohibited by law from providing further compensation to the families.