24 May 2018

Operations commander for Special Support Group (SSG), Superintendent Richard Sebudubudu says  Botswana Police Service has over the years changed its operations to involve the community in order to have successful policing.

Speaking during the event to promote the use of reflectors on donkey carts spearheaded by members of SSG troops based at Gobojango and Mmamabaka base camps on May 23, Supt Sebudubudu said in the past the police were feared, but had since introspected to bring people on board in fighting crime and bringing sanity.

He said fearful labels such as ‘charge office’ had been scrapped to community service centres, hence the emergence of neighbourhood watch, crime prevention and cluster policing to safeguard the lives and property of citizens.

He commended the SSG members of the C Company Unit at Gobojango and Mamabaka under the guardianship of Assistant Superintendent Simon Mogotsi for the initiative of putting reflectors on donkey carts for the purpose of visibility during the day and night.

The initiative by the SSG unit to plough back into the community was a demonstration of love as they wanted users to be safe on the roads.

The officer pleaded with donkey carts users to use roads safely and not to be cruel on donkeys.

Concerning policing issues, Supt Sebudubudu appealed to residents to help them with information in order for the SSG and police to curb crime in the area.

He assured the public that SSG troops would continue to plough back into the community where they are assigned missions.

For his part, Assistant Superintendent Mogotsi stated that during their operations they noted that many donkey carts did not have reflectors, which put users at risk.

Assistant Supt Mogotsi said carts were highly used in the area, hence the initiative to educate and put reflectors on the carts.

He said the initiative themed; Be Visible and Stay Alive’ was also supported by the village leadership and civil servants working in the area.

Reflectors were put at the back, sides and on the halters for maximum visibility.

Department of Roads, Transport and Safety representative, Mr Emmanuel Kgakishi said Gobojango residents must commend SSG for promoting safety within the roads.

Mr Kgakishi stated that reflectors were important on both bicycles and carts for visibility and warnings.

Kgosi Keabetswe Mokgethi also commended the SSG for being compassionate and stated that donkey carts were many in the area, hence a need to educate the community about safety.

Mr Kgosiemang Mogapi said people in the area had a long lasting relationship with the SSG and added that with reflectors put on carts many accidents would be avoided. ENDS