“The two clips show what happens when communities stand together to support each other and to support the police in the fight against crime,” they said in the post accompanying the videos. The videos are of community members from Acornhoek and The Oaks celebrating after armed robbery and hijacking suspects were captured.

“For the last year or two, Hoedspruit Farmwatch has been working with and assisting community members in both Acornhoek and The Oaks in building their own Farmwatch or community safety groups and assisting them with operations when necessary with the idea of creating a wider and safer community for all,” Jane De Pradines of Hoedspruit Farmwatch told the Herald.

She said on Thursday, February 3, there was “yet another armed robbery in Acornhoek and in fleeing the scene the suspects hijacked a vehicle, fatally shooting the owner in the process”. A variety of attempts to find the criminals during the morning after the incident was unsuccessful.

“Hoedspruit Farmwatch received a call early afternoon to ask for assistance as the suspects had been located, hiding out in Acornhoek. We assisted Acornhoek police and the Acornhoek Farmwatch with the successful capture and arrest of these suspects who have been terrorising the greater Acornhoek community repetitively,” she said.

A successful capture was made in Hluvukani together with the police and the videos show the joyful reception received by the Hoedspruit Farmwatch members as they exited the area through Acornhoek. “These videos are excellent examples of firstly how desperate everyone is to fight crime and how happy and grateful they are when another criminal is taken off the streets in our communities.

“Secondly, it shows how united we all can stand and work together against crime – a united nation of diverse communities where we can respect and understand our differences and stand together to do what is right,” she added. She also said that as Hoedspruit Farmwatch, they are proud of everyone in their Farmwatch team, those that responded to the incident, and all those that responded to the many other incidents occurring in various areas of town.

“All of your inputs are just as valuable to every part of our continuing operations – and we thank you all. “Thank you for everything you all do for our community and the communities surrounding us. All the activities that Hoedspruit Farmwatch carries out are thanks to our members who pay their membership fees so faithfully!

“Thank you for the outstanding cooperation we receive from the Hoedspruit/Acornhoek police, as well as our colleagues in neighbouring towns,” she concluded.