05 Sep 2023

Kgosi Oganne Polson of Matshelagabedi has appealed to government to build a police post in his village. Speaking during a kgotla meeting addressed by the MP for Tati East who is also the Minister of Education and Skills Development, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe recently, Kgosi Polson raised concern about the increasing rate of crime in the village. 

He requested for the increase of police officers, especially non-uniformed ones to increase patrols and enforce the law more effectively. Kgosi Polson indicated that recently an old woman was raped by unknown men who were still at large. 

Two primary school students were also raped at knife and axe point and that the culprits had not been arrested. 

He informed the MP that other crimes that were bedeviling the village included house break-ins at night and small stock theft. The chairperson of the Village Development Committee (VDC), Mr Maxman Maxman also underscored the need for a police post and a police vehicle. He challenged the decision by courts to grant offenders bail, adding that these people re-offend when they awere out on bail. 

He also requested for the construction of a reception class block at the primary school as well as to turn the health post into a 24-hour facility. Mr Maxman explained that unemployment in the village was also a major concern, especially among the youth. Shortage of drinking water was also another hot topic in his report, arguing that residents sometimes go for a whole week without water. In his address, Dr Letsholathebe spoke at length about the use of drugs and substance abuse, which affect mental health. 

He explained that Parliament recently passed a bill on mental health because it was realised that drugs and substance abuse had significant impact on mental health. 

He explained that drug and substance abuse could lead to addiction, which can cause mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and paranoia. Dr Letsholathebe said it could also cause physical health problems that could affect mental health such as liver damage, heart diseases, and respiratory problems. Dr Letsholathebe therefore called on parents to play their role in moulding their children, adding that some of these drugs, especially CAT, has found their ways into schools. 

For their part, residents appealed to government for regular maintenance of the border fence. They also called on government   to declare Sekokwe a village. 

The argued that the settlement has been relying on Matshelagabedi for various services such as health for a very long time.  ENDs