Alfred Moselakgomo

Alfred Moselakgomo

Isolated villages are being targeted by criminals.

At the weekend, a tavern owner in Lefiso village, near Marapyane in Mpumalanga, was robbed of R5000 by seven armed men. The thugs stormed into the tavern and ordered everyone to lie down. They took money from the safe, grabbed five cellphones from patrons and assaulted the tavern owner.

Villagers that because there is no police station in the area they are easy targets for criminals. There have been more than 10 robberies in their area in the last month.

"We believe these terrorising thugs are from neighbouring villages," said Sam Mmutle, a community leader.

He said the villagers live in fear because the festive season, when crime becomes even more rampant, is just around the corner. The village's closest police station is at Mmametlhake, about 30km from Lefiso.

Mpumalanga's police commissioner, Afrika Khumalo, said a task force would visit the area to listen to complaints about policing in the area.