The head of the SAPS Vhembe Nodal Support Service Centre, Dir Wilson Ngobeni, handed over 40 Raleigh bicycles and helmets to five Limpopo police stations last Tuesday.

It was all smiles as the station commissioners of the benefiting stations collected the mountain bikes at a special function held at the Vhembe Nodal Support Service Centre. Thohoyandou SAPS received 10 bicycles, Makhado 9, Musina 9, Levubu 4, Mutale 4 and Waterval 4.

When presenting the bikes, Ngobeni said the bicycles would play an instrumental role in the fight against crime in the respective policing areas. "In some towns like Thohoyandou, for example, there are congested buildings that cannot be accessed by a motor vehicle. We want the members of the SAPS to access those areas because most of the crimes take place there. People will think that the transport problem in the police sector will only be solved by our acquiring a fleet of vehicles, which is not true. Bicycles are another mode of transport which can play a leading role in the fight against crime."

Ngobeni urged members of the SAPS to use the bicycles in a responsible manner. "These are State property that must be utilized with compassion and care. They need proper care whenever they are broken or need some service. These bicycles are valuable assets that will definitely help us to reach our people out there. Let us show our communities that were are there, not only via police vehicles, but via these bicycles."

The station commissioner of the Thohoyandou SAPS, Dir Justice Tshisaphungo, said the presentation would make the duties of the police simple. "There were many places that we could not access by using vehicles and this will make our job simpler. We will handle the bikes with the best care because they are there for the benefit of the whole society."