TZANEEN: ‘The police alone cannot fight crime’

Community members came out in numbers to attend the provincial imbizo hosted by the SAPS at the Peace Makers Sports ground at Khujwana village on Friday.

The aim of the imbizo was for the Provincial Commissioner to interact with community members, listen to their concerns as well as come up with a way forward. The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba said the success of the cluster does not rely on the police only but it involves the community.

Part of the Provincial Commissioner’s address included hints on the prevention of car hijackings, house robberies and business robberies as well as vigilantism.

The imbizo was attended by ward councillors, learners, teachers, pastors and traditional leaders.

During his address Ledwaba addressed the issue of killing of members of the police service.

The chairperson of the provincial Community Policing Forums CPF), Tinyiko Mashimbye urged the Nkuna Royal Council to give CPF, YCop and other organisations a slot in their programmes to address tribal meetings. She added that community members should make it their responsibility to alert the police of any criminal activities. “Let’s tell the police of all criminal activities in our area so that they uproot all criminals,” she said.

She further said parents are supposed to fight crime from home.

“We cannot partake in looting of stores during strikes and take the goods home. What examples are we setting for our children?,” she said.

The chairperson of the provincial youth desk in the SAPS, Bongani Nkuna, said they are not happy with all the criminal activities happening in the province.

“Elders are using our youth during community protests, these people are our future leaders. Next time you embark on a protest, do so alone,” he said.

Community members raised their concerns and were given contact numbers of senior police officers within the Tzaneen cluster and provincial structures and urged to call them to report police officers who are not doing their jobs properly.

He said he had noted all concerns and complaints and promised to investigate further. “Feedback will be communicated to you through the local CPFs,” he said.

Prior to the Imbizo, on the same day the provincial commissioner accompanied by the Tzaneen cluster commander, Major General Maggy Mathebula and other stakeholders visited Bankuna and Hudson Ntsanwisi high schools. Other cluster commanders were allocated one school each, fifteen problematic schools in the Tzaneen Cluster have been visited. The learners were addressed on the following topics, drugs, alcohol, bullying, disrespecting educators, consequences of criminal records, engaging in protests and criminals roaming around in schools.