This village was ravaged by rampant crime with as many as 15 break-ins into houses taking place on a single day. People were attacked and robbed and it was no longer safe to live in this village.

Tired of this criminality, residents of Maniini K portion outside Thohoyandou started patrolling the area at night, but it became difficult to patrol the vast village on foot without resources.

Residents came together and thought of ways to improve safety in the village. They decided to raise money and they bought six bicycles, reflector jackets, torches and berets to be used by the volunteers.

A fortnight ago, a procession went through the village, with volunteers riding the bicycles and community members marching behind them to a spot where a meeting was held. The bicycles and other tools of the trade were officially handed to the volunteers in the presence of the community and the police.

Weapons confiscated during patrols were also shown to the community before being handed to the police.

The local civic chairperson, Mr Londani Makhuvha, said the village had become very dangerous, with many crimes taking place in the area. “The village had gone to the dogs and we could not wait for the police alone to rid our community of crime. We decided to be part of the policing in the area, and since then, the crime rate has gone down. We are thankful for the unity that is prevailing in our community - a community willing to do anything to make the area safe for all who live in it,” he said.

He urged other sections to have their own community policing forum (CPF) structures.

The local CPF chairperson, Mr Aluwani Mutshatshi, said crime had reached alarming proportions in the area. “We were dealing with around 15 housebreakings a day; people were being mugged on the way to and from work, and one could not leave washing on the line or a window open,” he said.

He thanked the community for having come up with the idea of bicycles. “Our volunteers will from now on patrol with ease. They will be able to cover a wider area. They will now have an identity as they have berets and reflector jackets,” added Mutshatshi.

W/O Ntsieni Mudau of the Thohoyandou police commended the community for their initiative, saying it would go a long way in the fight against crime.