POLOKWANE – The Westenburg police station was given 14 days in which to implement street committees as a way to fight crime.

The department of safety gave this directive at a community meeting in the Westenburg community hall on Tuesday night.

The meeting came after residents gathered last Thursday in front of the police station demanding an action plan from the police on what they were going to do regarding recent burglaries in Westenburg, last Thursday.

During the meeting residents had the opportunity to give input on crime-related matters in the community, and Review was there to capture what they had to say.

Garth Nagel said the police station needed police officials who were willing to work with the community. “The police at the station have a very bad attitude and are not always willing to help us. We would like some of our own people working at the police station, then we will also feel more comfortable and confident to give information to the police on crime-related matters,” Nagel said.

Atta Holland agreed with Nagel and said the community was not receiving support from the police.

“With the recent burglaries in our neighbourhood we started patrolling the area, but we need the support of the police, because it is not safe for us to do it alone. Last week we were patrolling and there was a power outage, so we went to the police station for help, but the police refused to patrol with us. We plead with the police to stand with the community so that we can get rid of the evil in our community,” Holland said.

Clasina Richter said there was a serious language barrier at the Wes-tenburg police station that needed to be addressed.

“Currently there is no officers at the Westenburg police station who speak Afrikaans. Many our older residents do not speak English and this becomes a problem when they want to report a matter at the station,” Richter said.

Florinah Molepo revealed in the meeting that she lived in fear after burglars tried to break into her home earlier this week.

“I can’t sleep at night. I jump at every little sound I hear. The police must do something to protect us women who live alone with our children,” Molepo said.

Margaret Marokane agreed with Molepo and said a woman was stabbed in the mouth with a screwdriver by a man who broke into her house in the early hours of Saturday morning.

“She and her sister live alone in that house. It seems as if burglars target houses where there are no men, where women and children live.”

Westenburg police station commander, Col Lukas Tlhako, said the police and residents should strengthen their relationship so that there was no space for criminals.

“For us to improve service deli-very, the community must point out our weaknesses so that we can address the problem. We have a task team that specifically deals with housebreakings. Three suspects in possession of a plasma TV were arrested in Westenburg on Monday.

“The police received a tip-off, but by the time we arrived at the scene the suspects already destroyed the TV. Together with the community’s help we will combat this problem,” Tlhako said.

The community, together with Tlhako and Rowland Stander, general manager for crime prevention and community-police relations at the department of safety, came up with strategies and a way forward to fight the crime wave in Westenburg.

These strategies were shared with Review, but for safety reasons, will not be published.

Residents are advised to contact the Westenburg police station directly at (015) 292 9410/15 to report matters.

For any feedback on burglaries in the Westenburg policing area residents can contact Lt Moses Moabelo at 079 061 0356.

‘We fear criminals’