By OBAKENG MAJE

The Northern Cape police held a Rural Safety Work session at the Kimberly SAPS Gymnasium in Kimberley on Tuesday. According to the Northern Cape police spokesperson, Captain Mosimaneotsile Letsapa, the session was attended by representatives from the Provincial Pro-Active Policing, Station Commanders from JTG, Frances Baard and Pixley Ka Seme Districts, Kimberly VCIU, Stock theft and Endangered Specied units.

He said this includes representatives from National Visible Policing and Operations (rural safety and stock theft prevention, Northern Cape Agri representative, Mr Joe Scholztz, Petrus Sitho from National Rural Safety Task Team and Stop Farm Murder and Morgad Sesloka from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.

“In her welcoming address, the Provincial Head for Pro-Active Policing, Brig Irene Kopeledi reiterated the importance of addressing Rural Safety as a collective because it is impossible for the SAPS to fight crime alone without the external role players.

“Brig Charmine Muller from the National office when outlining the purpose of the work session, mentioned that the Minister of Police instructed the SAPS National Commissioner to come up with the National Police Action plan and hence Rural Safety strategy was drafted,” said Letsapa.

He further said Muller informed the delegates that Rural safety is all about safety of farm dwellers, farm workers and their mutual cooperation with the SAPS as well as the importance of implementing the Rural Safety strategy by all parties and roleplayers.

Letsapa added that, the police were capacitated with more knowledge as to how to deal with stock l-theft related cases and the rights of the farming communities such as land rights, grazing rights, burial rights and basic rights.

Meanwhile, Captain Gibson Manong from Kimberly VCIU encouraged Station Commanders to ensure that, safe storage of the exhibits in SAPS 13 is taken care of. Manong said vehicles booked in as exhibits.

“In conclusion, Muller indicated that farming communities are the eyes and ears of the police in fighting crime, hence there must be mutual understanding and cooperation between the SAPS and them,” he said.

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