Vhembe Police Area Commissioner Joseph Maepa says there is nothing that can bring peace more than the power of prayer.

He was a speaker during the Vhembe SAPS Prayer Day held at the 2010 Centre, Thohoyandou, last Friday. Forming part of the gathering were members of the SAPS and pastors from different denominations in Vhembe.

Maepa said the Prayer Day is held every six months, to ask God for divine intervention in the war against crime. "This time we have decided to jointly celebrate our Prayer Day with the World Aids Day and the 16 Days of Activism against the abuse of women and children."

Maepa added that the SAPS alone could not succeed in healing this land, which has been exploited by crime. "It is our joint responsibility to make sure that we come together to wage a war against crime. We are working with different stakeholders within our communities because we know that we cannot succeed on our own. The SAPS belong to the people and these are the same people who must speak with us in one voice against crime." He continued: "We set aside this day to come together with the clergy as we do with other sectors of the community. We believe God will pour out His spirit of change, which will make the criminals abandon their bad deeds. Criminals are evil people who do not have room in our community and we must try our utmost to get rid of them."

He lashed out at community members who abuse women and children. "As law enforcement agents, we strongly condemn the abuse of women and children. In fact, we are against any abuse to human beings, regardless of sex. We are singing on top of our voices against these abuses because everyone has the right to enjoy the precious gift of life from God."

On World Aids Day, Maepa said: "Aids is a reality and it must be a known fact that it kills. We have lost valuable members of the community and we need to come together to prevent more deaths. The SAPS will always support those who are infected because they are beloved members of our community."