The MEC for the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management Sello Lehari has called on Tlhatlaganyane community in the Moses Kotane Municipality to help police fight crime.
This, as the community raised variety of issues at the anti-crime community engagement.
Among them are illegal mining operations, undocumented foreign nationals running unregistered businesses and proliferation of illegal weapons.
Briefing the MEC ahead of the community engagement, Kgosi Letlamoreng Batleng, said they have resorted to procuring private security companies. Everyone in the village is affected and this has even negatively impacted on schooling.
“We have already lost about four learners as a result of crime and illegal mining in our area. We as the traditional council have resorted to hire private security to protect our assets and ourselves.
The money used for hiring security companies could well be used for development of our area,” said Kgosi Batleng.
This was echoed by almost all community members who said they dusk brings gripping fear as criminals opening threaten anyone found outside after dark. However, community members conceded that these foreign nationals are staying and running businesses in properties owned by local residents.
“Report crime as and when it happens. Do not wait for anti-crime Imbizo to report it,” he said.
MEC Lehari implored on communities to work with the law enforcement officers to fight crime.
“We have noted all your concerns. Crime cannot and will not end, for as long as we abet and not abate it,” said Lehari.
MEC further explained that processes are underway to build a police station in the area however; there are several issues raised by different communities in the area that should be attended to before construction starts. Attending the Imbizo alongside the MEC were Head of Department, Dr Hans Kekana, senior management and stakeholders that included among others, SAPS, Home Affairs, Correctional Service and South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).
