We will always have hope …
We thank the men and women who remain true to their oath to protect and serve.
One of my journalists described Alberton as Gotham City not so long ago … a sad day indeed when hopelessness of a city lost to criminals and crime starts forming part of your mindset.
And one cannot blame people for really feeling as if they are living in desperation trying to get out of something that has dug its big ugly claws into our community. The same goes for the South of Johannesburg. Our communities are plagued by armed robberies in stores and restaurants, hijackings, people going missing, burglaries – you name it.
Then there are the disturbing reports and rumours that all is not too well at various police stations. You hear whispers of corrupt members, you hear a community crying out that they have to contact the police numerous times to have their statements taken, you receive letters about criminal activities in broad daylight and everybody is just turning a blind eye.
When the sun sets doors are locked, dogs are brought inside and the alarm systems are switched on one after another. We carefully lock ourselves into a cocoon of false safety, because on our streets criminals are calling the shots and you just know that sometime during the night, you will hear shots being fired and yet, no sirens afterwards notifying you of police response.
Yet – despite this desperation most of our residents must be experiencing, the RECORD experienced a little ray of hope this week. It took them six long years but they built a tight case and the HAWKS (Directory for Priority Crime Investigation) sunk one of the kingpins of Alberton North’s drug dealers, Philip Nsofor, aka the Lion of Alberton and also known as Stranger.
Nsofor’s (an illegal Nigerian immigrant) drug circle was infiltrated and close tabs were kept on him and his operations for more than six years, securing a solid case and guilty convictions on charges of racketeering (the first individual in SA to be charged with racketeering), participation in an enterprise, managing an enterprise, dealing in drugs and contravention of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002.
Determination of a group of men and women serving their country with pride ensured that nobody could fault their findings and Nsofor’s days are finally numbered. He was found guilty on all charges and will appear in court on November 12 and 13 for sentencing.
With that said, we salute the men and women who remain true to their oath to protect and serve. We thank you for your selfless service,s where you more often than not put your own lives at risk to keep us out of harm’s way. May you rise above the rest, may God keep you all safe.
We thank you for keeping hope alive…
*Editor
