By OBAKENG MAJE
The ANC Chief Whip in the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), Paul Sebegoe launched a campaign targeting crime hotspots in Tlhabane, near Rustenburg ON Wednesday. Sebegoe said the initiative is aimed at involving communities in the reduction of opportunities for crime.
He further said the crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED), which is a community mobilisation programme, was launched in partnership with churches in Tlhabane and Bomme Ba Thapelo Ya Lefatshe La Tlhabane (Women Prayer Warriors and Intercessors) and aimed at strengthening partnership against violent crime.
Sebegoe added that, they embarked on a cleansing of a crime scene, where the body of a crime victim was recently discovered and prayer service that commenced at 8am, near Rampa Primary School.
“This was followed by a soccer tournament social programme involving youth from wards 8,9,10 and 11 and local teams participating, as part of the Tlhabane ANC Cluster programme.
“We call for intensified effort aimed at limiting opportunities for criminals to utilise access and escape routes through bushes and dumping sites and enhance the ease with which potential victims could find and access escape routes to a safer environment,” he said.
Sebegoe said they must beyond this mobilisation of the faith-based community, intensify work with the Rustenburg Local Municipality, Mmabana Tlhabane, the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO), the Tlhabane Community Policing Forum (CPF), School Governing Bodies (SGBs), the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the business sector, ensure that young people are dissuaded from involvement in crime.
He said they must be discouraged from destructive lifestyles and this can be done through involvement in sport and other recreational programmes.
“The disused buildings such as the Old Tlhabane Teachers Training College, allegedly used as a hideout by criminal elements within the community. So, clearing of bushes, installation of high- mast, replacing street-light globes and reviving of recreational parks must be prioritised.
“Abandoned concrete drainage pipes along Kgosiemang Street that pose a safety, environmental and health threat, must be cleared and the contractor held accountable for rehabilitation of what was an ill- conceived construction site,” said Sebegoe.
He said the children cannot be jumping corpses on route to school. Sebegoe said girl-children and women cannot live in constant fear of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
“Seeking divine intervention signifies a call to action for active citizenry in order to reclaim Ubuntu. Let us tackle the social-ills prevalent in the area such as drug abuse, teenage pregnancy and gangsterism.
“We must never allow environmental degradation and or violent crime to define us and our way of life. Our hope and humanity must translate into a well-knit, peaceful community capable of rejecting lawlessness in all its manifestations, “he said.
Meanwhile, one of residents, Claudinah Phetoe, appealed for streetlights to be fixed and for intercessors to continue praying for youth, who are affected and lured to crime and drugs.
ANCWL representative, Fedi Sehunwe said they call for unity of women prayer warriors to advance women’s struggles. Father Stephen Marokane said though the country is experiencing challenges, the church will continue to pray for peace, stability and ethical leadership in the run-up to the elections.
“We will emerge victorious from the elections,” he said.
The Guardian 