23 Sep 2018

The village of Mogobane in the South East District has been hit by thieves who are targeting electric copper cables.

Just recently, about seven cases were reported in one night in which cables were stolen from residential and commercial properties.

In a recent Kgotla meeting by the area MP, Mr Samuel Rantuana, Mogobane Police Post commander, Sub Inspector Masego Bantshang said the cases were worrisome as there were about four cases reported in the past weeks, where thieves made way with cables from a residential house.

He said the situation called for involvement of all stakeholders, being the police and the community to join hands and defeat the criminals.

Sub Inspector Bantshang said the police alone could not win the war against crime unless the community comes on board, thereby advising them to form crime prevention committees.

He said a united community would pose a threat to the criminals’ schemes as they community would know how to respond to crime and be one another’s keepers.

Sub Inspector Bantshang promised Mogobane community that the police would assist the community with clusters.

Mogobane police superior also conceded that their operations were faced with shortage of transport.

He said the vehicle they used to have was often in Ramotswa to relief the situation there.

Sub Inspector Bantshang’s comments were generated by comments from the Mogobane residents who told the MP that the village police post did not have a vehicle and police were often forced to walk and failed to honour some calls.

The community also raised a complaint that the Mogobane vehicle spent most of the time assisting in Ramotswa.

Mogobane residents also complained about high incidents of copper cable thieving and habitual criminals who are almost always out on bail. ENDS