MTHATHA: A PLACE OF DAILY STRUGGLE AND RESILIENCE

By Precious Mupenzi.

• The outreach by the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster to Mthatha in the Eastern Cape has shone a spotlight on a community devastated by crime and natural disasters.
• However, through collective efforts by the government and the community, the town can be transformed from a hotspot of crime to one of resilience.
• The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster is implementing the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy, addressing both the causes and symptoms of crime.

“Mthatha is not just a place on the map, it is a community where the daily struggles of unemployment, crime, and poverty collide with the resilience of people determined to build safer, better lives.”

These words captured the spirit of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster outreach held in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, where Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, referenced the recent floods that killed many residents and displaced others in the rural surroundings.

Tolashe joined the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, and the acting Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia, in an integrated community registration outreach programme that offers the Department of Social Development’s services directly to those most in need.

A town under strain

Once a cultural hub, Mthatha is today marked by unemployment, poor infrastructure, and a lack of recreational facilities.

One in four young people is jobless, fuelling drug abuse and crime.

Informal settlements like KwaMpuku grapple with poor roads, electricity shortages, and irregular water supply.

Healthcare services are stretched, with Gateway Clinic, Stanford Terrace Clinic and Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital facing long queues, staff shortages, and stock-outs.

Recreational spaces are scarce; the town’s pool is closed, libraries are absent, and only one sports field serves the community.

Crime and gender-based violence in the spotlight

Police statistics show seven persistent crimes in Mthatha: stock theft, house robberies, motor vehicle theft, sexual offences, attempted murder, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and common assault.

From 2021 to 2025, 852 gender-based violence cases were recorded, placing the town second in terms of the cases of sexual offences reported in the Eastern Cape and ninth nationally. Behind these figures are women and children living in daily fear.

Community concerns

Community dialogues held ahead of the imbizo highlighted the drivers of crime: unemployment, substance abuse, organised criminal networks, and poor monitoring of repeat offenders. Poorly lit streets, abandoned buildings, and proliferating liquor outlets exacerbate the situation, creating environments where criminality thrives.

Government response

The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster is implementing the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy, addressing both the causes and symptoms of crime.

Since January, more than 18 000 operations, patrols and raids have been conducted.

Over 1 400 awareness campaigns and 67 sports-against-crime activities have reached communities, while intelligence-driven actions disrupted taxi violence and removed firearms from the streets.

Mthatha’s Sinawe Thuthuzela Care Centre provides 24/7 psychosocial, medical, and legal support to survivors, serving 11 police stations in the district.

In December 2024, a Sexual Offences Court was launched to fast-track cases and reduce trauma, achieving a 77% conviction rate – higher than the national average.

The Department of Social Development, through the National Development Agency, is also investing in social programmes. Initiatives such as Masiphunge Women Empowerment offer safe spaces and economic opportunities for women, while the Mthatha Men for Change movement challenges harmful gender norms.

Minister Tolashe’s call

Speaking at the imbizo, where the hall was packed to capacity as residents came in numbers to give feedback to the cluster ministers on issues raised during the community dialogues, Minister Tolashe acknowledged the hardships faced by communities, especially in the wake of floods and persistent service delivery challenges.

“We are here because we have heard your cries,” she said. “As a government, we bring a full basket of services, working closely with the Department of Home Affairs and the South African Police Service. Our collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs ensures that children can access social grants without delay.”

The minister addressed a range of pressing social issues, including teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence and femicide, and the influence of “sugar daddies”.

She urged parents to play their role in protecting families, noting that parenting is critical in combating social ills.

“We cannot allow young children to spend their time in taverns near schools. Families must take responsibility – government can only do so much, but parents and guardians are our first line of protection.”

She also acknowledged the struggles faced by single parents and unemployed households, pointing to the government’s interventions such as the basic income grant currently under discussion and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) school uniform programme.

“We know unemployment and crime are a reality, but we are responding through initiatives such as cooperatives for school uniforms, supported by the National Development Agency and the Department of Small Business Development. Parents, let us work together so that our children are clothed and cared for.”

On gender-based violence and femicide, Minister Tolashe called for collective action: “We must encourage children and parents to report all forms of abuse. Women and girls have the right to wear what they choose, even short skirts, without fear.

“Communities must rise up and establish movements that partner with government to end violence. We call on men to stand up and be part of the solution.”

She acknowledged the broader socio-economic context, stressing that unemployment and substance abuse were not unique to Mthatha but were challenges across the country.

“The economy is struggling, but together we can build resilience. Report all drug dealers in your communities. We must break the cycle of addiction and crime.”

As part of the day’s programme, SASSA handed over school uniforms to vulnerable children in the area, a practical demonstration of the government’s commitment to support families in need.

Building safer communities

The challenges in Mthatha remain significant, but the government insists the path forward lies in collective effort. By combining law enforcement with social development, education and community mobilisation, the aim is to transform the town from a hotspot of crime to one of resilience.

“Government alone cannot end crime and violence,” said Tolashe. “It requires all of us, families, communities, traditional leaders and civil society, to join hands in building a safer, more just South Africa.”