MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) - Christians made a clear statement against crime and corruption when they marched with members of the SAPS through the centre of town on Saturday, February 19.

A memorandum was handed to the Station Commissioner, Supt Naledzani Sivhula by Rev (Dr) Philip Venter, Chairperson of the Action Against Crime (Adopt-A-Station) Project.

“We are fed up with crime,” said Pastor M W Sitjie, Vice Chairperson of Adopt-a-Station and pastor of the Healing Covenant Church in Tshikota.

The memorandum strongly declared that pastors, churches and Christians around Makhado Police Station are in partnership with the police in their combined commitment and effort to fight against crime.

The commitment of the churches is threefold. They are committed to providing spiritual support as well as the demonstration of God’s love to the police through prayer and preaching, teaching and pastoral counselling at the police station. Pastors are committed to preaching and praying against crime in the churches. Churches open their doors for crime awareness campaigns and for Police Sunday (prayer day for the protection units).

Rev Gail Blunden of the Anglican Church and secretary of Adopt-A-Station, said that Christians, like everyone else, should report crime and corruption.

“You are involved, because Christians are also victims of crime,” said Rev Blunden who talks from personal experience. Her stepfather was shot dead for money in Johannesburg three weeks ago.

“As Christians, we should make a statement that we don’t agree with crime,” Blunden said.

The memorandum spelled out that the church is committed together with the police to fighting murder, rape, sexual offences, assault, theft, robbery, housebreaking, fraud and shoplifting.

Dr Venter from the Dutch Reformed Church concluded the march with prayer that the Lord would heal Makhado policing area and the country. After the march Dr Venter said that pastors minister to and counsel SAPS members every Monday and Tuesday.

“We are slowly building relationships between police members and the community. Churches are moving closer to each other. We believe that corruption will also be brought to light,” Dr Venter said.

Supt Sivhula expressed her appreciation that Christians were getting involved in fighting crime.

“In the end, we are going to win,” Supt Sivhula said. She said that crime statistics as compared to last year are going down: property crimes, contact crimes and integrated crimes. Supt Sivhula, who personally had been out on a policing operation till 04:00 that morning, ascribed the positive turn to the hard work of the police together with the cooperation of the community.