By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
22 October 2024 – The North West Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (PROVJOINTS) led by the South African Police Service (SAPS), has officially launched the annual Safer Festive Operation in Mahikeng on 17 October 2024. The operation commenced on 1 October 2024 until 31 January 2025.
The North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena said as part of a holistic, integrated social crime prevention and combating strategy, the operation will be executed in an intelligence-phased approach. Kwena said the first phase of the operation, which is from 1 October to 30 November 2024, is directed towards ensuring that school examinations take place in a conducive, peaceful, safe and incident free environment.
“It is in this regard that, I would like to request, encourage and call upon all the learners, School Governing Bodies (SGBs), communities, parents and Community Police Forums (CPFs), to work together with the PROVJOINTS and the Department of Education, to ensure that the examinations including the important matriculation examination, learners and educators are safe, secure and incident free.
“My message to all learners, especially the matriculants, is to remain focused, continue to study and avoid any activity that may jeopardise their personal well-being and possible unlawful conduct such as indulging in drugs and liquor during and after the examination period,” he said.
Kwena further said the police in the province have been given clear marching orders to deal decisively with any liquor outlets that will sell, supply and host the consumption of liquor to learners.
He added that communities, parents, SGBs and CPFs, are urged not to tolerate a tendency or practice of “Pens down” commonly referred to by learners in Setswana as “Go Tlhatswa Pene”, wherein they engage in wild liquor drinking celebratory parties often with disastrous repercussions for learners.
“The police are also making a call to event organizers, as well as community activists and community leaders to make sure that their events are hosted in accordance with the law. Where there are protests or marches, such are conducted in the manner that does not infringe the law or violate the rights of others.
“The SGBs and CPFs must work with school principals, educators and their local police stations to ensure that schools are crime free zones and that gangs, hawkers or vendors of dangerous foods, drug peddlers face the full might of the law,” said Kwena.
He said the SAPS and the PROVJOINTS would like to take this moment to wish the Department of Education, parents and most importantly, learners a safe, peaceful and successful examination period.
The Guardian 