Mahikeng – Stock theft has become an erosion to the gains made by the farmers for generations. This act of criminality, wipes out the legacy which many wish to one day leave for their families. However, stock theft stultifies all those wishes.
This is a sighed resignation made at the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Stock Theft Community Engagement held at Matshepe Village outside
Mahikeng. The engagement is part of an ongoing outreach programmes led by the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management to create an opportunity for the public to actively participate in the
fight against crime.
MEC Sello Lehari encouraged communities to work hand in hand with police and make utilised correct and proper procedures to report crime
and to follow up on reported cases.
“Crime in general affects everyone, whether directly or indirectly. Therefore, a collaborative approach is needed to adequately deal with
this criminality”, said MEC Lehari.
Community members complained that they are failed by the law enforcement officers. “Police and communities need each other to strengthen the fight against crime”, emphasised MEC Lehari. “There is also a need to heighten our efforts to create awareness and educate communities about the correct processes of reporting crime. Once the case is opened there is a need for constant following up [on reported cases]. We can never say this enough, do not abandon cases. Engage us as the department when you feel there is tardiness on your case. We will follow up for you to ensure that police work optimally by way of intervention and support,” said MEC Lehari when addressing the local community that included farmers from the Ngaka Modiri Molema District.
Community Policing Forums (CPFs) are structures made up of community members who work alongside police and aimed at achieving effective
crime control initiatives at a neighbourhood level.
“The forums are a way to bridge the gap between police and the communities they serve. CPFs have a firm grasp on what to do when there is a need to escalate and refer matters concerning the police,
these include internal and external structures.
Farmer associations ought to partner up with CPF structures to form a collaboration focusing on stock theft,” said Robert Malungane, the
North West CPF Provincial Chairperson.
The department through its Monitoring and Oversight Directorate, conducts follow up investigations on cases opened and not handled to the satisfaction of the complainants. The engagement organised as part of the District Development Model (DDM), was also an
opportunity for the community to bring forth case numbers for
monitoring and thorough probing. Other government entities such as the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), Home Affairs,
Correctional Services were providing much needed on site services. The engagement was also attended by Kgosi Seatlholo of the Barolong boo
Rapulana and Kgosi Shole from the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders.
—ENDS—
