Different stakeholders in Vhembe hailed the launch of the Secondhand Goods Act on Monday and said it was an important link in the fight against crime.

Launching the new act, Deputy-Minister of Police Maggie Sotyu said the act stipulated that any person who bought stolen goods was as guilty as the thief. She said both the buyer and the thief would receive harsh sentences. The act further empowers the police to arrest the buyer and the thief “so there is no longer an excuse when it comes to criminality,” she added.

“Our message to the community of Thohoyandou and the entire country is that they should refrain from buying stolen goods,” she said. She added that the new act was an expression of the police's commitment to reach out to communities, be they urban or rural, to drive home the message that crime does not pay.

Turning to the police, she said: “This act complements your efforts in fighting criminals; the time of the police taking hours to respond must come to an end.”

She also urged people to be suspicious of people selling secondhand goods and report them to the police before deciding to buy these goods.

The MEC for Safety and Police, Ms Fhulufhelo Radzilani, said she was excited that the deputy-minister had thought of launching the act in Vhembe, because it gave her the opportunity to have a firsthand experience of the resources in Vhembe.

Sotyu also visited the Vhembe’s child protection unit and the one dealing with sexual offences.