MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) - The Chairpersons Association unanimously and publicly condemns the murders and crime in the area. They appeal to the authorities to send enforcements to this region and to fight crime aggressively.

The CA mourns the death of the persons who were killed during the recent spate of attacks, including the owners of the Mountain View Hotel, and sympathises with the family and close friends of the deceased.

“All crimes, particularly the killing of people, destabilizes the region and destroys the opportunity for wealth and job creation,” reads the media statement.

The CA appeals to the authorities, in particular the SAPS, to maintain a policy of zero tolerance towards all crime.

“Send enforcements to this region in order to hold road blocks and do energetic policing. Wipe out all kinds of crime, whether it is small or big or murder. Do not focus on murder and serious crimes only, since minor crimes lead to more serious crimes, creating a climate for criminals to thrive in this area,” is the urgent appeal of the CA.

The CA appeals to the police to work out a plan with time frames as to how active policing is going to be done and also as to how the public is going to be involved in pro-active crime prevention. Both the public and criminals should take notice of this plan, as well as tourists who fear to come to this area because of the soaring crime.

“The time has arrived now for the public and the police to take hands in order to fight crime aggressively and pro-actively in an organized and results-driven manner. The alternative is that we will be too scared to live in this area and all doors will be closed in respect of any possible opportunities to be created,” says Mr André Naudé, Chairperson of the CA.

Another pressing appeal of the CA is that the police make a special effort to have all illegal immigrants arrested in this area and pro-actively address all problems relevant to this issue. Employers are urged not to employ illegal immigrants, “as in most of the instances, illegal immigrants were involved in crime and especially in the murder of our people in the Limpopo region,” the CA says.

The CA congratulated the police on the arrest of one of the murderers of the Hayward couple. The police are also requested to do everything possible to bring to book other murderers. They also thanked the representatives of government and other authorities for showing their empathy with the Hayward family, by which they signalled clearly that they regard these murders as totally unacceptable.