POLOKWANE – The MEC for Safety and Security, Ms Dikeledi Magadzi, this week indicated that disciplinary steps might be taken against the management team at the Levubu Police Station.

Ms Magadzi also announced that the South African Minister of Safety and Security, Mr Charles Ngqakula, will be visiting the Limpopo Province next week and will be meeting with members of the Levubu community.

During a media briefing, Ms Magadzi referred to the prevailing situation in the Levubu area, and criticised the police at Levubu for allegedly not having given sufficient attention to the safety and security of the farming community. A series of farm attacks occurred during recent weeks, culminating in the brutal murder of prominent farmer and community leader, Mr Piet de Jager, a week ago. Ms Magadzi says bad management at the Levubu police station contributes to the lack of a strategy to successfully combat crime in the area. She announced that a task team has been deployed to investigate the whole matter.

The visit of Minister Ngqakula is part of an Imbiso Week, which will last from Monday to Friday next week. The Imbiso Program is a government venture to meet with the people of the region. The Minister will arrive on Monday to visit the Makopane area.

On Tuesday (14th) the Minister, accompanied by the MEC, will visit the Vhembe region and will be meeting with people in the Thohoyandou stadium. The Levubu community is also invited to meet with the Minister and the MEC. In the meantime, the police investigations into the De Jager farm murder and several other recent attacks on farms in the Levubu area, are still continuing. Communications officer, Capt Alwei Mushavhanamadi, confirmed this week that the Serious Violent Crimes Unit of the Police is conducting the investigation into the latest farm murder. He said that there was no progress to be reported at this stage.

The Levubu area has some of the most valuable farmlands in the country. The Levubu valley is one of the most prominent and productive, intensive farming communities in the country, producing high quality tropical fruit, nuts and vegetables. A large percentage of these is exported - earning millions of rands in foreign exchange for the country. The intensive farming methods in the valley require a high level of specialised expertise. It is estimated that the farming community of Levubu supplies in excess of 10 000 job opportunities in the region.