Deputy Minister of Police addresses Kuruman residents on rural safety
MEMBERS of the Kuruman community poured out their hearts regarding their crime-related concerns during a follow-up rural safety imbizo conducted by the Deputy Minister of Police, Cassel Mathale, at the Thabo Moorosi Multipurpose Centre in Mothibistad on Saturday.
The community’s concerns were addressed by a panel consisting of relevant role-players who were taking accountability as heads in their different departments and structures.
Mathale was accompanied to the imbizo by the MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Nomandla Bloem, the provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Koliswa Otola, representatives from the national commissioner's office and the provincial CPF chairperson, Tebogo Malapo.
Also forming part of the imbizo were representatives from John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, Ga-Segonyana District Municipality, the Civilian Secretariat, the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison, Correctional Services, rural safety organisations, farmers unions and local communities.
Northern Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock explained that the event was a follow-up visit to Mothibistad to give feedback to the community on issues and concerns raised during a similar community engagement held in 2019.
He said the Imbizo was initially hosted in an effort to further cultivate a culture of accountability in ensuring the safety of rural communities across the country by the Police ministry and the management of the South African Police Service.
“The community engagement is in line with the SAPS Rural Safety Strategy, aimed at addressing challenges of violent crimes perpetrated against rural communities,” said Kock.
“Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale led the stakeholder engagement and was joined by the national and provincial management of the South African Police Service in engaging key anti-crime role-players in the Kuruman community who are active in the fight against crime.
“Over and above addressing policing challenges during the Rural Safety Stakeholder Engagement, the Deputy Minister also sought to promote and improve relations between the police and community policing role-players.”
Mathale addressed the community on rural safety and various crime-related issues and reiterated the importance of rooting out corruption in the police service.
