Event honours crime fighters in blue
Thursday night was proof that SAPS officials went all out when the opportunity to dress up presented itself. The men and women were definitely not in blue and they were dollied up to make up for that.
SABIE – Thursday night was proof that SAPS officials went all out when the opportunity to dress up presented itself. The men and women were definitely not in blue and they were dollied up to make up for that.
The event was to honour the officials who devoted their time and went the extra mile to lend a helping hand to their communities.
Established in 2003, the Women’s Network and Men for Change has been a driving tool for SAPS officials in the province to keep more in touch with the community through projects and by protecting vulnerable people.
Community safety, security and liaison MEC Mr Vusi Shongwe, praised the SAPS fraternity with regard to the latest crime statistics, and encouraged them to keep fighting the good fight.
“Although the high number of crimes reported remain a thorn in our flesh, it is pleasing that our province is among those that rank tops in reducing crime.
“I would like to commend the outgoing commissioner for being able to reduce crime consistently over the past three years under his leadership. Well done commissioner, your good deeds will follow you wherever you go. Thank you for the contribution you have made towards creation of a safe environment for our people,” he said.
Shongwe went on to condemn police killings. “Thina la eMpumalanga sithi wabulala iphoyisa wabulala umphakathi.
“When an accident occurs, when someone is murdered, when a robbery occurs, when communities protests violently or any how we call the police, when we hold events of any nature we call the police to safeguard and secure those events, yet we still kill the same people we find refuge in. It makes no sense at all.”
Shongwe has made it clear that Mpumalanga has no room for criminals as they would be brought to book.
“We must bring those callous bastards who were part of Jackson Mthembu’s recent shooting incident in eMalahleni to book. “Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana Star, Senzo Meyiwa’s killers must also be brought to book and face the consequences of their horrendous crimes.
“Not only them, but many perpetrators of crime should be sent to jails where they belong,” he said.
