The Welkom police have reached out to the job seekers standing next to the Unitas Secondary School, Welkom, after it was reported that a learner had been robbed there.
On Thursday, 28 March, at 11:00, Capt. Thembi Motlomelo, sector commander, and Capt. Kenalemang Mphatsoe, community policing officer, reached out to a group of apparent job seekers who often stand next to Unitas.
Capt. Stephen Thakeng, media liaison officer for the Lejweleputswa police, says the group of men were all interrogated about the incident involving a learner who had been robbed of cash and his cellphone.
“The jobseekers told the police that they were not aware of the robbery, but that they had seen the article in a copy ofVista,” says Thakeng.
The police requested to profile the group, and they were encouraged to assist the police in preventing future crimes in that immediate area.
They were asked to report any form of crime happening in the vicinity of the school.
“We told them to report robberies, theft, general kidnappings, theft out of and from vehicles, housebreaking, and assaults.
“We also informed them of gender-based violence (GBV) awareness campaigns.
“We told them that as much as we understand that they need odd jobs for their families, if they do not cooperate and work together with the Welkom police, there will be no alternative but to forcefully remove them from the vicinity of the school,” says Thakeng.
This follows the publication of a letter (dated 28 March) from a concerned mother after her son had been robbed by job seekers who stand next to or near to the school.
The letter was titled “Threat spreads”, written by “Concerned mother, Welkom”.
