Effective crime prevention machineries implemented
Police in the Tzaneen Cluster established effective crime prevention machineries which dealt harshly with any form of criminalities throughout the 2015 December festive seasons.
The applied strategies covered the crime hot-spots in all seven police stations being: Maake, Ritavi, Tzaneen, Letsitele, Bolobedu, Modjadjiskloof and Mokwakwaila on which violent and other planned serious crimes were prevented. Police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe, said they will continue with them until all streets are safe from any type of criminalities.
“The challenges which were experienced during this period, include high rate of drunken driving and public drinking but we dealt with the situation head-on where out of the high rate of the arrested people, 25 of the public drinkers were charged, fingerprints taken and appeared before various magisterial courts this week up to today and those of drunken driving were remanded to February and March 2016 for further investigations.
This 25, were all found guilty of drinking in public and given fines ranging from R 300, 00 to R 500, 00 each and other cases were remanded to February and March 2016,” Ngoepe said.
More than 60 suspects were arrested for assault cases which is liquor and domestic related. Public drinking incidents do generate more serious crimes such as murder, assault, rape to robberies which is an area of serious concern.
“The entire festive period was relatively quiet compared to the previous ones which motivated us to do more in securing our communities and their properties unconditionally and without any compromise.
The Police have enjoyed an exceptional support and cooperation from the Business Community and the Community leaders including farmers and this spirit is encouraged to continue in the name of partnership policing forever.
Our plans to Police the Christmas-eve and the New Year celebrations were also successful because there were no serious crime incidents reported during those festivities which is highly commendable,” Ngoepe added.
Members of the community are once-more warned to stop drinking in public and drunken driving because now ,drinking in public will cause you to have a criminal record which is unnecessary and avoidable by drinking liquor at the right authorised places or in your homes. Non-compliance on liquor outlets were also dealt with and the owners are warned to comply with the act fully including not allowing under aged children in their premises.
The Saps Tzaneen Cluster Commander, Brigadier Thomas Shingange have expressed his happiness on this milestone achievement and encouraged all members of the Police in this Cluster to double their efforts in the fight against crime until all members of the community are safe in all aspects.
He also appreciated all individual community members and Stakeholders who have contributed in this achievement.
