The communication gap between the blind and the South African Police Service (SAPS) was bridged on Tuesday when the Limpopo MEC for Safety and Security, Ratshivhanda Ndou, announced in his budget speech that braille will be one of the communication methods they are going to use in order to communicate with blind people.

Ndou announced this when presenting his 2008/9 financial year departmental budget of R43, 063 million in the Limpopo Legislature at Lebowakgomo.

He outlined that the budget had increased by 14.24% from last year’s budget of R37.7 million. "We are accommodating braille, so that even the blind can have access to issues related to their safety in the community. Fighting crime is a collective task for both the police and community at large," he said.

He further said the amount of R21, 990, 000 was set aside for the support programmes, systems and personnel. The administration section, according to Ndou, will get R4, 623, 000 while the corporate service will receive R9, 734, 000 from the budget.

Ndou further indicated that financial management section will receive R5, 860,000 from the budget and R1, 773, 000 is going to the management services of the department. He further acknowledged that the workplace skills plan has been finalised and that an amount of R400, 000 had been put aside in this regard.

"The department has put aside R100, 000 for employees’ financial assistance to further their studies. This will help them to be more skillful. On the side of the youth, R310 000 has been put aside to equip them with skills. Eight deserving students will benefit from this project, as we are going to grant them bursaries to study at any tertiary institution," revealed Ndou.

He also stressed that the department has also set aside R10, 370, 000 for crime prevention, communications and community relations projects.