The MEC of Transport, safety and Liaison; Mr. Patrick Mabilo promised Henningvlei community, that despite the closure of the police station, SAPS will continue to provide services in the Henningvlei area, John Taole Gaetsewe region.
NIKE AIR HUARACHEThe plight of the Henningvlei community was brought to the attention of the MEC by the Chief of the area, Kgosi Bareki, who was totally unhappy about the closure of the local police station.
The key concern of Kgosi Bareki was his community will be vulnerable to criminal activities, once the Station was closed.
Without wasting anytime, the MEC convened an Imbizo in Tsowe, Henningvlei on Friday, 13 April 2013.
The MEC was accompanied by the Provincial Commissioner, Janet Basson and all the top management of SAPS, the HOD of Transport, Safety and Liaison and other stakeholders, including the CPF.
The objective of the Imbizo was to account to the community of Henningvlei why the police station was closed, to offer them a platform to raise their concerns around broad SAPS services, to assess and evaluate the impact of our crime prevention programs in the area.
Overall we are satisfied that we succeeded to achieve all that we set to do; i.e. to engage community members on matters of their immediate concern.
The area of Henningvlei requires a new police station and as the MEC;i will explore all avenues to ensure that this is realised, even if we have to approach the private sector to assist us in the new building of the police station in the area, mobile police units will be provided in the interim.
He also called on the community to work together with the department and SAPS in fighting crime as he alluded that crime fighting was a collaborative effort.
“Don’t despair that the police station has been closed. Visible police patrols will be intensified, we will continue to raise awareness on crime, crime hot spots will be targeted and note high crime peak period such as days when pensioners collect their social grants weekend and month end,” said Mabilo in his address.
He added that the relevant station commander must have regular engagements to update the community on progress made regarding their plights.
MEC also promised to look into the issue of the police shooting victim as it was only brought to his attention during the Imbizo and said he will get a progress report from SAPS; the victim must be given feedback on the progress of his case.
“I don’t want to make empty promises, but I assure the community that we will definitely look into all matters raised, we will do things differently by going back to the community to report back within two weeks.’’
He promised to make a follow up on all issues that were raised during the community meeting.
“The closure of the police station has been reported to the SAPS and National Office of the Police Minister, but the closure was the decision of the Department of Labour, due to its state of disrepair, although we will make means to ensure services are rendered in the community despite this.”
“We want crime to stop and to save the lives of our women and children. We want to stop rapes and ensure safer communities and it is only through working jointly with our communities we will be able to achieve this. We will also seek assistance from the Department of Justice in this collaboration to ensure justice prevails for our communities.”
At the Imbizo; the issue of Learner transport was sharply raised by the community.
He said there needed to be more unity between the community and ward councilors in addressing issues such as learner transport. “Councilors need to engage with us and alert us of such issues so that they can be addressed amicably. My office and HOD Jonkers are available to hear and address such complaints,” explained MEC Mabilo.
“Government policy says that children need to be transported if they travel for more than 5km to school.”
He said as the Department; they had heard the community’s plight and held the Imbizo to account to the people, hear their plight and draft a way forward.
“We are solution orientated so we will categorize the issues accordingly and see what mechanisms we can put in place to address them,” said MEC Mabilo
We will go back to the community of Henningvlei to give them a report back on all issues raised.
Statement released by:
Mr.Lebogang Majaha
Media Liaison Officer
Ministry of Transport, Safety and Liaison
071 8836 404