TZN to curb criminal activities

The Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM), hosted a Safety and Security Colloquium at Hotel@Tzaneen recently.

“The purpose of the colloquium was to share information and ideas on safety and security issues affecting GTM and to come up with resolutions that will assist all residents and visitors of GTM,” explained Obby Mkhombo, Director of Community Services.

The occasion was honoured by different stakeholders which included, Saps, business sector, traditional leaders,CPF, NPA and CSF.

Major Gen Maggy Mathebula,Tzaneen Cluster Commander explained that rape, attempted murder, car-jacking, business and house robberies are some of the crimes that are problematic within the GTM area.

She also urged community members to speak up against criminal activities and to also not protect criminals when the police are looking for them.

Proffessor Kholofelo Mothibi, from the University of Venda, discussed various safety and security issues which affects the municipality.

“Research shows that the people who normally embark on protests are usually angry young men who are unemployed and with no tertiary education and were promised a job by a municipality.

Community leaders are prominently involved in the initial stage of the protests, by influencing the community to protests and without the protests having anything to do with the municipality,” explained Mothibi.

She however advised the municipality to not make promises they cannot fulfill as it can create a strife between the community and government.

Mothibi also added that leaders must not be scared to say no especially on the community’s demands which they know they cannot be able to fulfill.

She however commended GTM on having minimal violent protests and urged them to keep the protests non-violent.

Maripe Mangena, GTM Mayor sent out a message to criminals to find a new hiding place because he said that the government, police and other stakeholders are working together to eliminate all criminal activities in Tzaneen.

The different stakeholders also tried to find resolutions to some of the safety and security challenges which are currently facing the municipality.

Some of the resolutions which they came up with in trying to prevent unnecessary and unlawful protests is for community leaders to provide the community with information and necessary feedback.

And to run educational campaigns on how governmental projects work such as the Integrated Developmental Planning for Local Government (IDP).