11 Jun 2019

The Ghanzi District commissioner, Mr Mooketsi Lesetedi says as cyber-crime has infiltrated the internet world there is need for community policing clusters to consider sensitising the public about it.

Mr Lesetedi said it was time for the community to be sensitised about revenge pornography, insults and defamation of character circulating in the social media platforms.

Speaking at the district community policing cluster awards ceremony, he said the rising crime rate in his region called for supreme effort to turn the status quo around, thus he challenged the community policing cluster to step up their game.

He cited rape, stock theft and threat to kill cases as some of the rising crimes in his region.

Mr Lesetedi pointed out that 51 rape cases were recorded in 2017, 62 cases in 2018 and from January to April this year, 29 cases of rape were recorded.

Concerning threat to kill cases, the district commissioner said there were 17 cases in 2017, 44 in 2018 and from January to April this year, 13 cases were recorded.

He stated that 2017 stock theft statistics stood at 105, while for 2018 it was 82 and 42 cases recorded from January to April 2019.

Mr Lesetedi said since Ghanzi region consists mainly of pastoral farmers, he was hopeful that the recently launched Kgomo-Khumo operation IV in the region would abate stock theft.

He hailed those who got the awards and appealed to those who did not make it not to despair.

Officer commanding No. 6 District, Senior Supt Cyprian Magalela said community policing cluster initiative had proven successful.

Sr. Supt Magalela said hosting awards at district level, which was previously done only at national level, gave more clusters a chance to be acknowledged, adding that this should motivate the clusters to work harder.

Ghanzi Township court president, Kgosi Botshelo Lekgothu said the significant role played by clusters in fighting crime could not go unnoticed, saying their role had eased the burden of police services.

About 26 awards were presented to deserving clusters under the following categories; best practice (seven), community commitment (12) and certificate of appreciation (seven) ends