EZULWINI SECURITY SYMPOSIUM

 

EZULWINI TACKLES CRIME WITH SECURITY SYMPOSIUM

… equips residents, businesses, and stakeholders on the best ways to prevent and fight all types of crime.

EZULWINI – Just in time to curb festive season crime, Ezulwini municipality residents, businesses, and stakeholders have been capacitated on safety, security, and cybercrime through a Security Symposium on December 11, 2023.

The first-of-its-kind symposium was hosted at Royal Villas and featured insightful presentations from key security, cybercrime, and safety stakeholders. The presenters included the United States Embassy, Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), Eswatini National Fire and Emergency Services, Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM), Eswatini Bankers Association (EBA) and Eswatini Royal Insurance Corporation (ESRIC). Also set up at the venue were various security, cybersecurity, and banking-related stalls, including security companies and banks.

The event is part of the council’s Strategic Plan, which aims to make Ezulwini a crime-free town. Part of the efforts towards that was that in 2021, an armed response unit was introduced.

Deputy Mayor and Ward 4 Councilor Comfort Hlophe made opening remarks on behalf of Mayor Bongile Mbingo.

“This wonderfully hosted event is part of an important chapter in making Ezulwini a safe, vibrant, and environmentally friendly town. We believe that we will achieve that through strengthening partnerships with law enforcement agencies and developing innovative crime-fighting strategies,” he said.

Town Clerk Mathokoza Shongwe outlined the objectives of the symposium. “This symposium is meant to create awareness on commissions of crime and different types of crime. Our second objective is to create awareness of various ways of preventing and mitigating crime. Our last and most important objective is building a safe community,” he said. Shongwe said through fighting crime they would be able to posture a community ripe enough for investors to come into.

One of the presentations by the US Embassy highlighted Best Practices on personal security, driver security, residential/compound security, and general preparedness.

The presentations were by Assistant Regional Security Officer Nathaniel Bray and Security Investigator Titus Motsa.

Bray advised the residents to try by all means not to be easy targets to criminals, and to do so, they needed to be more aware of their movements and surroundings. Motsa noted that when approached by criminals for assets like a vehicle, they must not fight them as assets were replaceable, yet life was not, and in any case, an investigation could recover a car.

“We also advise residents not to walk or jog alone. You must also not keep your valuable items visible in your car. Also, avoid visiting empty eateries at night,” he said among the many tips he shared on the day.

Meanwhile, the Eswatini Bankers Association (EBA) collaborated with MTN Fintech and spoke to cybercrime and Mobile Money (MoMo) Fraud. Making the event interactive was also a panel discussion in which many of those present got to ask each of the presenters and service providers questions. Some also commented that they offered solutions to ward problems, like Muzi Masuku, who proposed that the council engage the private sector to support the fight against crime.

Present at the event included residents, ratepayers, business owners, and stakeholders. Councilors also present were Councillors Hlophe, Darron Raw, Jabulani Mathonsi, and Zodwa Dlamini.

 

EZULWINI’S CRIME SPOTS LISTED, MITIGATION DISPATCHED

EZULWINI – The municipal wards, where crime is usually reported, have been disclosed by the council, and mitigation strategies have already been dispatched.

The Town Clerk, Mathokoza Shongwe, shared with the guests the complete map of the wards and informed them that most crime reports came from Ward 4, primarily a residential community. The other wards are Ward 6 and Ward 3.

“Residents must get information and link up with law enforcement agencies to see what they can do with the council to create a safety net among themselves,” he said.

He disclosed that Ward 4 had successfully set up a Neighborhood Watch Scheme that considerably reduced crime.

Chairperson of the Ward 4 scheme, Pete Armstrong, said they set it up on July 9, 2018, and it had grown from four people covered to 85 houses, averaging three people a house and 255 people on average. “We are all linked through WhatsApp and work through voluntary work of community members, doing patrols and responding to emergencies. We also do security blitzes traveling around randomly with flashing lights and making noise,” he said.

He, however, stressed that they were not replacing police. He said the scheme had been quite helpful as many have been apprehended. The latest case was of five youths who broke into a vacant house while tenants were in SA and were caught red-handed.

 

SECURITY SYMPOSIUM TIMELY, HELPFUL - REPS, RESIDENTS

EZULWINI – The police and residents have described the security symposium as a timely and helpful session that will equip them beyond the festive.

The REPS Assistant Commissioner Nicholas Jele said cybercrime is a multi-billion-dollar industry but is massively underreported.

“Knowledge is the first weapon of choice. We applaud Ezulwini for such an initiative and believe that if we all work together, the whole country could curb crime and cybercrime,” he said.

Residents in different submissions said they also appreciated the presentation by Fire Services the most and asked that they share it with more people.

Nomsa Magagula said she hopes the event will be hosted annually. “This event shows that the Council has our best interest and welfare in their thoughts. I had no idea of the threats presented today, especially on cybercrime, and I am better equipped now,” she said.

Senzo Mnisi, the facilities manager at Corner Plaza, said he would share the messages with those around him as they were very important, even in businesses.

John Tutu Katemo said he would utilize his gadgets more cautiously after the lessons. “I learned a lot, especially from the police and the banks. We must not be vulnerable and trust too easily with our accounts,” he said.

The event ended with a unanimous agreement to have it hosted annually.

MONITOR YOUR CHILD’S ONLINE ACTIVITY-ESCCOM

EZULWINI – Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM) has warned residents to monitor their children’s digital and mobile activity so they are not victims of cybercrime and online trafficking.

ESCCOM’s Nokuthula Hlophe explained in detail what cyberbullying, cyberstalking, online trafficking, and sexual grooming were.

“Child trafficking is also on the rise. Make rules and set guidelines; teach them how to use social sites, review games, apps, and online purchases, educate your kids about body safety, make them assured that you are listening to them; regularly talk to your kids about the internet,” she said before elaborating further on each point.

She also elaborated on several cyber crimes and detailed how the public could safeguard themselves.

 

SHOCKING ONLINE FRAUD STATS

EZULWINI  - The Eswatini Bankers Association (EBA) shared online fraud statistics that stunned the audience when they said E2 292 527 was stolen from just seven accounts through a change of banking details scam.

The EBA warned the audience about various scams and reminded them always to roam when outside the country and have airtime so that they can get notifications.

Siphalele Magagula Shabangu advised the public to limit vulnerability because criminals want access to their money.

“Do not overshare online your activities, buying trends, and other details as there are people who wake up daily and their assignment is you and me,” she said.

Meanwhile, MTN Fintech shared common fraud trends under mobile money, including impersonation through job scams or MTN for promotions. They advised the public not to rush to do MOMO strings when a stranger asks and to remember that only MTN does reversals.

 

KNOW YOUR HOME FIRE EXITS

EZULWINI – The Eswatini National Fire and Emergency Services have called on residents to be more alert on fire starters, including faulty cellphone chargers.

Mandla Dlamini, Communications Officer, said even a faulty charger when placed next to

Clap hands for the development of the town.

“Each of us needs to measure how much fire potential you have in your house. If you have any petrol in your house, then your house is a huge threat. Other fire fuel includes sofas, beds, clothes, and books. We must also not wrongfully place books and newspapers in children’s rooms as they fuel fires. The bathroom is usually the safest place during a fire,” he said.

He also gave various tips on how to react in a fire, like knowing your house and places of escape, lying down, and fighting for cold air as much as possible until you reach your exit.

However, he lamented that it was sometimes hard to access many communities, and collaboration with local governments is essential to improve access.

 

QUOTABLE QUOTE

“No actuarial scientist can compute the value of a human life, and worse, that human impacts on average up to 10 people, and you would need to state the value of the 10. No human life can be replaced; let’s fight crime,” the Town Clerk