RITAVI  – The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Major General Jan Scheepers accompanied by the Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for the Detectives, Major General Samuel Manala and the Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for Corporate Services, Major General Christine Moralakadi supported by the Acting Head of the Department of Transport and Community Safety, Ms Jane Mulaudzi, had on Saturday 12 March 2022, descended to Petanenge Village in the Ritavi Policing area outside Tzaneen under the Mopani District on community engagement in the fight against crime.

In attendance, was also the Saps Waterberg District Commissioner, Major General Dikeledi Mangena, the Acting District Commissioner of Mopani Brigadier Marry Mashila, the Provincial Heads, Station Commanders, Nkuna Royal House, the Greater Tzaneen Local Municipal Councilors, the Department of Justice, the Youth Against Crime, the Community Policing Forum, Men for Change, Women’s Network, the Saps Brass Band, other several stakeholders and members of the community in general.

Before the main event at Majomela Sports Ground, the Acting Provincial Commissioner and his entourage visited the Nkuna Royal Palace and later proceeded to the AFM Church in Petanenge Village for a briefing session.

During the session, the Acting District Commissioner Brigadier Mashila presented the crime overview of the area. The Saps management and other stakeholders discussed the issues affecting service delivery and the significant ways of improving the quality of services.

The Acting Provincial Commissioner highlighted that the Police and members of the Community need each other to win the fight against crime and he also said, “it is crucial for every police station to ensure that they have active community policing structures.”

After the briefing session, the Acting Provincial Commissioner and his entourage, proceeded to the Sports Ground for the main event.

The event was opened with a prayer and scriptural reading by Warrant Officer (Chaplain) Maluleke.

Major General Manala outlined the purpose of the event where he said, “the Saps Provincial Management, came to Ritavi Policing Area because it is within their responsibility to engage with communities on service delivery related matters on which they will acknowledge the identified concerns and put the intervention measures.

During the messages of support, various stakeholders unpacked several issues including the importance of participating in the Community based crime prevention structures in order to win the fight against the mushrooming of drugs, the Gender Based Violence and Femicide, Domestic Violence, abuse of liquor , Child Safety at Schools and other criminal activities.

Members of the Community were also given the opportunity to ask the Policing related questions and imputs which were all responded to accordingly by the Acting Provincial Commissioner during his keynote address.

Major General Scheepers started by acknowledging everyone presence and in his special message was unpacked as follows : during the poems presented by the local primary school Children, they were clear in saying that, ‘Men are abusers’, “which tells us that all that we came here for, it occurred at the right area, because the main reason for conducting community engagement today is because of the high rate of reported cases influenced by the domestic violence, gender base violence, liquor, drugs and the rate of sexual offences, murder, robberies and mob attacks and killings. As community members, especially men, we need to fight for our dignity, we need to take leads and protect women and children without oppressing them or violating their rights.”

Major General Scheepers has further reiterated that back then, Limpopo used to be a safe and peaceful area but not anymore, because as most communities have lost morals and human principles”, close code. He encouraged the community to trust the Police as they are well trained and resourced enough to provide valuable services to them. He further said, rise your voice if you are not satisfied with the services delivered to you by the Police. “We can win the battle against crime, we can restore the dignity of our province if we promote and participate effectively on partnership Policing”.

“Let’s go back to the basics where we raised a child together. We care for this community, we care for you. We want women to walk around the streets free and safe. Community members, we need your help, as the Police, working as a team, is an important aspect to keep us all safe.”

In concluding the imbizo, Major General Moralakadi thanked all the participants on today’s program, the Acting Provincial Commissioner, the Saps Management at all levels and members of the community for putting safety first which is very clear and proven by the success of this event.

Source: South African Police Service