Chief Ndidivhani Nyamande of Matangari has issued a strong warning to any villager who might be found harbouring illegal immigrants. The concerned traditional leader was addressing his villagers during a crime-awareness campaign at Matangari-Tshiawelo on Saturday morning.

Together with members of the SAPS, the Pastors Forum, traffic officials, representatives of the justice system and Sanco, Chief Nyamande was on a mission to find ways to reduce criminal activities in his village.

Nyamande told his subjects that the police alone cannot win the war against crime. He urged community members to report any criminal activities either to the police or his khoro (council). "We want to make Matangari a better place to stay and invest because we do not have room for criminals. One of the things that are giving us problems is the harbouring of illegal immigrants in our village. This contributes to the escalating rate of crime in our village. It also creates confusion when the illegal immigrants commit crimes. We will never get these people because they are not in the database of Home Affairs."

Pastor Tshamano Phuluwa of the Apostolic Faith Mission Church said it was the duty of the church to contribute to the eradication of crime. He said there was no need to preach about spiritual freedom without bettering the lives of the people on earth. "Apart from our spiritual responsibility, we have a role to play in the development of the communities in which we stay. The church will always be in the forefront of fighting against crime in this land."