MAKHADO – In an attempt to harmonise their relationships, religious leaders from various denominations within and outside the policing area of the Makhado SAPS launched an Adopt-a-station Project at the NG Kerk Soutpansberg last Friday.

At national level, the project is known as Action Against Crime. The Adopt-a-Station Project is a programme where religious leaders see the need at the police station level and take a bold decision to adopt that station. According to Chaplain Mudimeli the project is under the auspices of Spiritual Services, and it is a partnership between the police and church with a common goal of eradicating the enemy, which is crime.

“As Makhado SAPS, we are of the view that, by being adopted by pastors of various congregations, our members who might find themselves in stressful and unfavourable conditions would be assisted with spiritual support. As police, we might be committed to reaching a zero tolerance towards crime, but that would not be possible if we do not include every community structure in this fight,” said Insp Phillip Mosina. Mosina added that the vision of the Adopt-a-station project is to see churches in a combined effort to spiritually support and pray for the police. He further said that their goals are to see pastors joining hands to unceasingly pray against crime.

Father Frank Gallagher told Mirror: “As pastors, we cannot tolerate the crimes that are happening in our communities. We cannot tolerate farm killings, rapes and robbery; therefore, our contributions as the church in fighting crime can be fruitful. When outlining the strategies Spiritual Services is going to embark on, chaplain Mudimeli said that, through pastors, “we will invite all churches to join hands and pray for the police through a prayer rally.” She said that Spiritual Services would visit different congregations to make them aware of the need of fighting crime as well as their need to offer spiritual services to the SAPS members.