New station commander urged by residents to help fix Westenburg

POLOKWANE – The Westenburg community is looking forward to a healthy working relationship with their new police station commander, whose appointment was announced in September.

A provincial police statement announced that there was a promotion of 202 members from different positions including that of station commanders, and Col Shadikana Elizabeth Mokwena was appointed as new Westenburg station commander. The occasion was held at the Seshego Police Station lapa on September 11.

Westenburg residents have for years expressed their dissatisfaction with the service they receive, citing poor response times among other complaints.

Many have also questioned the police’s ability to make successful apprehensions, saying residents have on various occasions pointed out drug dens to police officers, with little to no action that followed.

“We understand that national budgets are tight and that is why we may lack vehicles to transport officers for swift assistance. But we need her to meet us halfway in fixing our community,” community spokesperson, Sarel Martin said.

“We need her to engage with us so that she understands the tough situations youths and older adults face as a result of drug use,” he added.

An attempt to reach Mokwena for comment was unsuccessful, but provincial police spokesperson, Col Malesela Ledwaba said Polokwane Observer would only be allowed to engage with her at a later stage, citing administrative reasons.

In June, the Capricorn district police commissioner, Maj Gen Lesiba Mashilo joined a Community Policing Forum meeting to discuss ways to improve especially police visibility and response times.

It became evident that the police station has a larger policing area than its available resources such as vehicles, something the national police service said it would improve on once budgetary constraints are less limiting.