A successful awareness campaign to highlight crime prevention, crime hotspots, and also to make the community aware of various police initiatives, was held in Rheederspark, Welkom.
On Wednesday, 27 March, Welkom Partnership Policing joined forces with the Department of Correctional Services, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), the Department of Social Development, the Matjhabeng Municipality, the Lejweleputswa Gender-based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) ambassador, the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (Sanca), the Safer South Africa Foundation, the Department of Roads and Safety, and the Sector Crime Forum to gather at the Holy Ghost Fire Church in Rheederspark.
Residents were told how to report crime, especially domestic violence; how to use victim-friendly rooms for the taking of statements; and how to report the unbecoming behaviour of police members.
Residents were encouraged to support the police’s initiatives that are undertaken with community policing forums.
Capt. Stephen Thakeng, Lejweleputswa police spokesperson, encourages the community to attend meetings so that they can be informed about crime trends, and where the crime hotspots are situated.
During the campaign, Rheederspark parolees were visited. These ex-offenders raised their concerns about how they were being treated by the community.
“They reported on how some of the residents do not treat them well and they end up fighting back, which sends them back to prison.
“An appeal is made by Correctional Services that parolees be given second chances as they are being rehabilitated.
“Stakeholders presented their speeches to residents and the event ended well,” says Thakeng.
