Community presses Kempton Park police for answers and resources
Civil society organisations, community leaders and political parties staged a protest outside Kempton Park police station on Friday, demanding urgent engagement and tangible action from the police following a string of killings that have left residents fearful. The demonstration comes as the station faces intensified scrutiny after nine women were killed in Ekurhuleni since July, according to reporting on the matter.
Protesters presented a list of demands to station management and gave police a week to respond. Among the calls were requests for increased resources, improved policing strategies in high-risk areas and clearer communication with communities about investigations and preventative measures.
- One-week deadline for police to respond to community demands
- Calls for adequate resources to ensure officers can effectively police the area
- Stronger, co-ordinated action to address gender-based violence and the safety of women
Those on the ground said the action was both a show of frustration and a plea for partnership. The protesters said they still want engagement rather than confrontation, and stressed that policing alone will not solve the deeper social problems that fuel gender-based violence (GBV).
“Police and civil society must be properly resourced to fight gender-based violence,”
The Deputy Minister for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Steve Letsike, was reported as saying that the scourge of GBV also requires broader social interventions. Her remark underlines a recurring point from civil society: that policing needs to be accompanied by social services, prevention programmes and community support systems.
What residents say and what this means for Kempton Park
Residents interviewed at the picket described growing anxiety in neighbourhoods where women and girls are being attacked. They want visible policing but also want to see suspects arrested, rapid case progress, and safety plans implemented at schools, taxi ranks and informal meeting points.
Police capacity was a central concern. Protesters argued that officers are stretched thin and that greater logistical, forensic and investigative support will be necessary to keep pace with the caseload and reassure communities.
| Issue | Community demand |
|---|---|
| Resources | More officers, better equipment and forensic support |
| Accountability | Timely updates, arrests and visible progress in investigations |
| Prevention | Joint police–civil society programmes and broader social interventions |
Protest leaders also told police they would return if they did not receive a satisfactory response within the week. The action reflects a broader national mood in which communities demand quicker, more transparent and more effective responses to violence against women.
Next steps and wider context
Police were given the list of demands and the deadline. How the station replies — whether by committing resources, opening community engagement forums, or outlining operational adjustments — will shape relations in the weeks ahead. Civil society says it will monitor any promises closely.
Officials emphasised that addressing GBV requires work across government and society. While policing remains a critical part of the response, social-workers, health services, education programmes and local government all play roles in prevention and support for survivors.
For Kempton Park residents, the immediate priority is to see tangible measures that reduce risk and bring perpetrators to account. Community organisers said they want concrete timelines and measurable outcomes rather than statements, and they reiterated that they are prepared to engage constructively but will escalate action if they feel commitments are not met.
The coming week will be watched closely by many in Kempton Park and across Ekurhuleni: not only for the police response but for evidence that local leaders and state agencies are willing to co-ordinate and resource an effective, multi-sectoral response to the killings that have unsettled the metro.
