Cleaning Out Crime in
Kanyamazane
Media Alert
4 April 2008
Mpumalanga Department of Safety
and Security in collaboration
with Mbombela Local Municipality
as well as local CPF, volunteers
from KaNyamazane, SAPS
reservists, local councillors
and members of patrol teams will
plant trees at KaNyamazane
Police Station and de-bush crime
hot spots in the area on
Saturday, 5 April 2008 from
08:30.
The purpose of the exercise is
to involve the community in
broader crime prevention
initiatives of the Department.
With the initiative, the
department encourages
communities to make use of
Police Stations because they
belong to them and not to the
police, and therefore they must
take ownership and also ensure
that they are well looked after.
Planting trees is in line with
efforts of the Department to
participate in Greening
Mpumalanga. The Heritage,
Greening Mpumalanga and Tourism
flagship project is one of the
Big Five Flagship Projects of
the Mpumalanga Provincial
Government as announced by
Premier Thabang Makwetla during
his 2007 State of the Province
Address.
The exercise will culminate into
the de-bushing of KaNyamazane at
Wards 18, 19 and 20 where
several incidents of crime has
been reported around the
identified spots. Clearing of
the spots also assist in
ensuring that criminals do not
take advantage of bushy areas
and is also in line with
departmental programmes to
combat crime in collaboration
with communities.
The initiative to trim trees and
cut long grass around identified
hotspots will ensure that
opportunities for committing
crime or likelihood are reduced
or eliminated because previously
at the identified spots serious
crimes ranging from murder,
attempted murder, rape, armed
robbery and assault has been
reportedly committed. Criminals
would usually hide around those
bushes and long grasses at night
and wait for their would-be
victims so that they can prey on
them unaware.
Meanwhile Mpumalanga Safety and
Security MEC Fish Mahlalela
urged all municipalities to
emulate this undertaking as it
would go a long way in
addressing crime before it even
happens.
All participants are expected
to meet at KaNyamazane Police
Station at 08:00 and members of
the media are invited.
Enquiries: Joseph Mabuza 013 766
4055/ 082 678 1450
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