SPRINGS – Missing KwaThema woman, Ntombifuthi Rumo, has been found alive, but the community believes authorities have failed them.
Kwa-Thema ward councillor Njabulo Mbonani said residents feel abandoned by police.
Community members had to step in to help the Rumo family after Ntombifuthi went missing this week.
She was found alive on Saturday night after her family received a R40, 0000 ransom demand.
Mbonani said the community is tired of having to fend for itself.
" SAPS, we tried to contact them, but always I think they are failing the community. Even the family of Rumo, the family of Ntombifuthi, they were helped by community members in order for them to make sure that she come back home safely.
“Every time when we try and call the police, they are forever absent. They don't intervene. Even now we had a similar case where a woman was murdered last time. But even now we haven't found any response from the police. So the community is getting tired now. Ntombifuthi was kidnapped on Thursday. Even now, even if we can go to the police, they don't have any report. They don't know what is happening. So here in KwaThema, most of the time we are on our own, because law enforcement is failing the community."
Community leader Bongi Tsotetsi said women and children are living in fear.
" Women in KwaThema we are no longer safe. Even our kids, we are scared to send them to the nearest shops because government failed us dismally. We ask government to intervene. Focus on these issues of kidnapping of women. But our government really fails us dismally.