The police held a prayer meeting at the Roman Catholic Church in Vosloorus on Sunday, January 29.
SAPS members, CPF members, EMPD members and members of the Correctional Services attended.
Vosloorus Police Station commander Brig Themba Denge explained the purpose of the day.
“We want to thank all the police officers who are alive and those who passed away for all the sacrifices they have made in ensuring the safety of the community. We also want to pray to God to keep safe those who are still alive and protect them from the criminals who want to see their blood,” said Denge.
Denge promised the church members and the community of Vosloorus at large that, as the SAPS, they are going to do everything in their power to make sure that the community is safe from criminals.
“We just need your prayers so that God can give us all the strength we need to protect you,” he said.
“I want you to know that there is crime in Vosloorus. People’s expensive property is being stolen. Others are followed from the banks and robbed of their money upon their arrival at their homes. We also have a drug problem in this township. We are working hard to eradicate drugs, but we are unable to catch the dealers because the community doesn’t report them. If you as the community can report dealers, we will be able to protect the future of your children,” Denge said.
Denge pleaded with the community to work hand in hand with the police in the fight against crime. He also asked the community to pray for the police so that they won’t be led into temptation.
“Some of the police officers are selling dockets, just because of temptation,” concluded Denge.
According to Mike Madlala, the presiding officer and deputy chairperson of committees at the Gauteng Legislature, the reason there is so much corruption in the force is that people want to be what they are not.
“If you don’t have money, you don’t have it. Don’t commit crime to get money, because you will be arrested and end up making the police your enemies.
“Other people use power wrongly. I would like to advise people to think before they do this, because you will get into trouble,” said Madlala.
Madlala went on to talk about the theme of the day, “Stop Killing Our Protectors”. He advised people to utilise all the help that the police provide.
Priest Smilo Mngadi of the Roman Catholic Church led the police prayer meeting. He said that the police are the heroes of the community.
“As the church members and the community of Vosloorus, we recognise the good job that you do for us.
“It is sad to know that every day when you leave your houses, you say goodbye to your loved ones, not knowing if you will come back because of the risk that your work entails.
“But you do that all the time with one aim in mind, which is to protect us. We want to thank you for all the sacrifices you have made, putting your own lives on the line so that we can sleep peacefully,” said Mngadi.
Mngadi concluded by asking the church members to pray for the police so that God will protect them when they are doing their job.
