Cape Town – Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa has promised commercial farmers in the Western Cape more resources in the fight against crime.
Mthethwa, along with his senior officers earlier today had a meeting on security with farmers from the Stellenbosch and Paarl areas, where he urged them to work together with Community Policing Forums (CPFs), business and communities in general to combat crime there.
He promised that helicopters and vehicles that were bought during the Fifa World Cup would be used to combat crime, highlighting that they should be more organised and “community conscious.”
Farmers in Stellenbosch indicated that they had established a radio network system and were working along with security companies to curb crime
Provincial Police Commissioner Arno Lamoer called on police to “get out of vehicles and make contact with communities” when on patrol.
He raised concern about copper theft saying the province was seen as the “biggest exporter” of the stolen metal.
Lamoer also warned dealers in second hand goods to register all the goods they bought in order to help police track down criminal elements.
He assured the farmers of more vehicles to patrol rural areas, but also called them to involve farm workers in fighting crime.
“Sometimes we forget about farm workers,” he said, noting that at times, some of those workers were involved in crime. – Francis Hweshe, BuaNews
