As part of the nationial crime prevention campaign, the SAPS area commissioner in Vhembe, MJ Maepa, handed over school diaries to the learners of Masedi Combined School during the national police day celebration held at the Tshikota community hall last Friday.

January 27 is regarded as national police day as the SAPS was promulgated on January 27, 1995. According to Maepa, the celebration of national police day in Vhembe was also aimed at strengthening the partnership between the police and members of the community, as well as paying tribute to those police officers who lost their lives while on duty.

“I realised that we can use this chance to appreciate community members for their loyal support in fighting crime, while at the same time encouraging my junior staff members to continue being committed to ensuring that our communities are safe and protected from criminal activities,” he said.

When asked as to what led his office to celebrate the day in Tshikota, the area commissioner said that, within his area of operation, Tshikota is a flash settlement in terms of escalating crime rate such as the harbouring of illegal immigrants, house breaking and theft. “In trying to implement what is known as the Limpopo crime prevention strategy, we will not be talking with students only, but also with community stakeholders,” he said.

The circuit manager of Zoutpansberg West, Mr PK Netshia, thanked the SAPS area office for choosing to celebrate the day at Masedi because the school had been characterised by unbecoming behaviour and disorder in the previous years. “In the recent past, you would not talk to learners paying attention to you like this, but today, they've changed and there is always an improvement of Grade 12 results ever since Mr Silas Makhwathana took over as school principal,” he said. Netshia said that it is crucial to introduce a subject in Grade R that deals with people’s rights and social responsibilities. He requested the principal and his teachers to act like policemen by ensuring that students are not carrying firearms and knives.