07 Dec 2020

Botswana Police Service (BPS) continues to support the less privileged members of the society by offering them better homes.

Speaking during the official handing over of a P160 000 house in Letlhakeng on December 3, the Commissioner of Police Mr Keabetswe Makgophe said the project was delivered under the BPS social responsibility programme, through which they have made a commitment to give back to the community in recognition of their invaluable support in the delivery of their mandate.

“This voluntary gesture also serves to strengthen the existing bond between the police and members of the community,” said Mr Makgophe.

He said the undertaking demonstrated compassion, care and love for one another as highlighted in Proverbs 18 verse 16 and also Proverbs 3 verse 27, ‘which inspires our hearts and motivates us to continue to offer support to community members in need’. 

The commissioner of Police extended his gratitude and commendation to Letlhakeng police officers for going an extra mile over and above their duty commitments to engage in life redefining projects such as building the house and ensuring its completion.

He applauded the officers for their tenacity and endurance despite the challenges they went through, key among them being resource limitations due to COVID-19. 

“It was through the officers’ will power, commitment and team spirit that the project was successfully executed. This is indeed an outstanding achievement that must be appreciated.”

He said BPS believed in community policing and as such it became easier for crime to be fought and also to identify any signs of crime in the society. 

Mr Makgophe therefore called on the community to work hand in hand with the police to defeat crime. 

He announced that he would assist with provision of funds for the connection of electricity to the yard and asked that application for connection should be carried out.

Shering the project overview, divisional commander South, Senior Assistant Commissioner Harrison Digobe said the idea of building the house started back in 2013 when police officers were on patrol and identified the need that the beneficiary Ms Gakeoboele Molematsela had. He said the officers then shared their idea with the colleagues and they contributed money towards the construction of the house, but first started with water connection in the yard.

He said they contacted the sub- district council to assist with a plan for the house and later they decided to add a sitting room and a toilet to make the house complete.

Mr Digobe added that with the help of donors and other stakeholders they managed not only to build the house, but also fence the yard and buy household items among them a bed, a stove and groceries. 

He said the total amount of money used in the construction of the house was P160 000 and the house was built by a volunteer in Constable Monnaatsie. 

The beneficiary, Ms Gakeoboele Molematsela said she was over joyed to see a new house better than many around, more so that she did not expect to have a beautiful house as this one.

She said the police officers had done a great job that shall be written in the table of her heart.

She narrated how the police officers saved her as she was contemplating suicide due to living state before they came to her rescue.

Ms Molematsela showered the police with blessings and mercy from God, saying she now owned a beautiful house in which she would  sleep without disturbing anybody or any disturbance from any body. 

When giving a vote of thanks, area councillor Mr Mothusi Ramogolane commended the police for doing a wonderful job in housing the needy in the community.

He said this was a sign that the police were serving the communities and that there was no need for members of the society to fear them, but rather work with them to end crime. Councillor Ramogolane further said it was love and faith that made them complete the house. Ends