Maj General Lesiba Mashilo, who was the acting police commissioner during a recent police prayer day at the Charis Missionary Church at Makwarela, emphasised the power of prayer to curb the scourge of police killings and spiralling crime.

He added that the SAPS had so far lost more than 60 officers in the line of duty and this had become a source of great concern. Speaking during the service, which was attended by clerics from different local churches, families of police officers and police officers from all over the province, Mashilo said the killing of police had reached alarming proportions and that, despite the many preventative measures they had in place, the killings were continuing.

“We are here commemorating those members who passed on in the line of duty. We are here to give hope to their families and to show that we are doing whatever possible and at our disposal to stop the carnage against police."

He added that criminals lived "in our midst" and he begged the public to be the ears and eyes of the police "that we root this criminality once and for all for this place to become a peaceful place for all.”

Thohoyandou Cluster head Brig Mbhazima Ngobeni said the area was plagued by crimes such as robbery and rapes. “With the cooperation we are getting from the community, we will make this area a crime-free area where criminals will not have anywhere to hide,” he said.