Relief was evident on the faces of The Oaks residents as Mathale visited the site to acknowledge the start of the project. “The project is in response to the need for essential police services in the area, given the crimes that have plagued the area for a long time including serious crimes, gender-based violence, and the like.

The community had to travel far to report crimes, as their nearest station is located in Hoedspruit,” said Col Maesela Ledwaba, provincial police spokesperson. Dignitaries who attended the event included Maruleng Mayor Tsheko Musolwa, Maruleng speaker Blantina Raganya, local councillors, the tribal authorities from Kgoshi Mametja, acting divisional commissioner Maj Genl Senobia Hankins, Mopani district commissioner Maj Genl Willy Mashavha, members from the provincial police office, local stations, units, and the community.

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The event started with a courtesy visit at Kgoshi Mametja and proceeded to the main event at The Oaks village, which was driven by Raganya and Serg Patricia Shikwambana as programme directors. The mayor of Maruleng welcomed guests and praised the police for finally building a police station in their area, Ledwaba said. Mashavha said the sod-turning was the traditional way of celebrating the project.

In his address, Mathale said it was important for the police’s management to identify that the area needed a fully-fledged station. “The construction of the station is long overdue and I urge the community to be the eyes and ears of the police for anything that might disturb or stop the project,” he said, before wrapping up the activities by officiating the handover of the Calais Stadium under the Kgoshi Sekororo Traditional Authority.