Matjhabeng municipality’s two-day safety summit unpacks initial plans to combat crime

Matjhabeng local municipality and the police in Matjhabeng have assured residents that a collective effort by the municipality and the police will act in a staunch to fight criminal elements that have plagued communities and left them living in fear.

Speaking during the first-day of the safety and security summit, Matjhabeng mayor Thanduxolo Khalipa said, recent crime statistics released by police minister Bheki Cele and the Statistics South Africa’s victims of crime report, have painted a gloomy picture of high crime levels in the country as whole.

“The issue of crime in our country is worrisome. There’s also an issue of Zama-Zamas operation which hinder efficiency of service delivery to our people, as this operations often leads to infrastructure damage,” said Khalipa.

Khalipa pointed out that his office will join hands with the Lesotho’s ministry for home affairs to fight illegal activities that corroborate undocumented foreign nationals who commit crimes.

He also stated that his main priority having taken the office as the mayor last year, is to also combat corruption.

Khalipa alluded that, he is committed to work hand in hand with the security cluster, inclusive of the police and the traffic department.

The two-day safety and security summit was held at the Ernest Oppenheimer theatre in Welkom, where Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela, police, roads, and transport MEC William Bulwane and Lejweleputswa mayor Veronica Ntakumbana and district police major general Lerato Molale honoured the invitation.

The summit also stretched a hand to invite a bilateral relations partner to South Africa, Lesotho’s minister for home affairs, Motlalentoa Letsosa.

Addressing the attendees, Letsosa, said government of the Kingdom of Lesotho is perturbed by alarming criminal activities and acts of lawlessness intrigued by some of its nationals in South Africa.

“We are disturbed by criminal elements that are committed by one of own in this country. I can say that we will not allow criminals to commit criminal activities in our neighbouring country,” said the minster.

“We’ve heard of the allegations of our nationals that commit malicious crimes such as murder, steal cars, livestock, and break into people’s households, is high time we fight this criminals as this affects our bilateral relations with South Africa.

“Our home affairs ministry has agreed on a proposal to work with the south African government and the Free State government to report serious crimes and deport Lesotho nationals who commits crime in the foreign land,” added Letsosa.

He also added that undocumented foreign nationals pose a serious threat of instability within those countries they have illegally habited. 

He freshly minted another word of apology, “Basotho Kingdom would like to apologize to the south African women and children who are being killed by these criminals who call themselves Bashoeshoe and also those who carry stick fighting since the Lesotho Government has enforced a law that they must not carry them.”

Matjhabeng municipality also tabled down its plans to work hand in hand with the police, to reinforce the besieged Community Police Forum (CPF).

Police, roads and transport MEC Bulwane said his department will provide monthly stipend to members of the community who will be deployed under the CPF, as the department has allocated a concrete budget to curb crime.

Premier Ntombela, who delivered a message of support to a well-run summit, stressed that all parties must unite against crime.

“According to the report by minister Cele, women and children are the most vulnerable against crime. Gender-based violence is the most prominent crime committed in the Free State with 1 644 reported cases.

“It is absolutely imperative that our women and children are protected. Indeed we cannot trivialize the existence of other crimes like livestock, theft, car-hijacking, drugs and murder,” Ntombela said.