It is refreshing to see that some local business people are taking the time to support the fight against crime in our community.

This was the case on Tuesday at a demonstration held by P&L Hardware and Ellies Electronics to show the public the new range of DIY Security systems that will be introduced at all 14 P&L Hardware branches in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces.

At the same time, P&L Hardware handed over a cheque of R10 000 to the Soutpansberg Dorpswag. Afterwards, André Prinsloo, Managing Director of the P&L Hardware Group, had this to say: “This is not a political issue. Crime affects all of us equally - our families, our friends and comrades, our businesses and our workers. We are all at risk the whole time, no matter who we are or where we are and although the police have been much more effective lately, it is still not enough.

“I am certain that there will also be huge improvements in the crime-fighting capabilities of the police services in the future, but for some people who were recently killed or raped, that will not help much. We must do something now. We must stand together and present a united front against the criminals who have invaded our community. These criminals do not have a political agenda; their agenda is crime and violence in its purest form and therefore everyone is at risk Blacks, Whites, Indians and Coloureds. We have people from all of these groups, professional and businesspeople, who can afford to help. I would like to challenge all these people to make their contributions to a just cause and to be active in promoting a safer environment for our children. Remember, it is not politics, it’s crime.”