POLOKWANE – Members of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) teamed up with the SAPS, Polokwane Municipality and the community during operation Hlwekiša to clean up a crime hotspot in Biccard Street on Tuesday.
CPF media relations officer Frans Swart said they had to clean the abandoned stand opposite Laerskool Pietersburg Noordskool Primary because the place had become a haven for criminals. “We want to eliminate crime as much as possible and that’s why we’re cutting the grass,” he said.
Swart further explained that shorter grass will make it easier for the CPF to patrol the area and spot potential criminal elements.
Noordskool principal Attie Visagie expressed his gratitude towards the entities. “We’re extremely grateful to the CPF, the police, the community and the municipality for the hard work they’re doing, because this stand has been a serious problem. It was used as a place to hide stolen goods. We are so relieved. Our learners will now feel safe when walking in this street after school,” Visagie said.
Marisha Snelling who works at Dr JJ Kruger next to the abandoned stand said they’re very happy because the stand affected them as well,” Snelling said.
She added that the area is also used as a toilet which pollutes the vicinity with a bad smell which makes it uncomfortable for their patients. “I’ve been working here for 15 years and this stand has always been unkept, and criminals saw it as a good hiding spot. We applaud the team for the good work,” Marisha said, and added that as the last person to lock up the premises in the evening, she didn’t feel safe as a woman.
“We would also like to thank the management team from Meetse Civils for the tractor and all the cleaning equipment we used, Col André Kotze with his sector managers for collaborating with us today and for the police cones that we used to barricade the area, and the municipality for all the help with the clean up to keep the community safe,” Swart said.
