The new commander for the Makhado Cluster of the South African Police Service, Brig Mbhazima Ngobeni, plans to stabilise policing and make sure that security, safety and peace prevail in the cluster.

With more than 30 years of experience in the service, Ngobeni believes that good leadership and being strategic breed positive results in policing. He was appointed cluster commander with effect from 1 March this year after the former cluster commander, Brig Alex Seopa, went on pension last year.

Ngobeni, who had occupied the position of cluster commander in various parts of the province before, said that he had already noticed that an escalation of certain crimes in some policing areas, which included Waterval, Mphephu, Makhado and Musina, was taking place. He mentioned rape, burglary and robberies as some of problematic crimes in those areas.

“So we request the communities to report all crimes to the police,” he said. “People must refrain from buying stolen goods, because that act adds to crime escalation. We urge our communities to stop taking the law into their hands when they have information about criminal activities. Mob justice is dangerous.”

He further advised business operators to close on time and never to sell goods after hours as they might be exposed to dangerous strangers. “Give all information to the police about the activities of the selling of illegal cigarettes,” he said. “We need to live in a crime-free Limpopo, starting from our cluster. So, let's fight crime."

Police stations included in the Makhado Cluster are Mara, Tshilwavhusiku, Waterpoort, Mphephu, Waterval, Tshitale, Musina, Alldays and Makhado.