Correctional Services National Commissioner, Makgothi Thobakgale led a Crime Awareness Imbizo at Mathibela Sports Field in Marite outside Bushbuckridge, on 26 January 2024, to address the crime challenges plaguing the area. The imbizo was organized under the theme: “Working together for a safe and peaceful South Africa.” Marite is one of the areas beset by criminal activities such as murders, school and business robberies, hijackings, truck lootings, and Gender-Based Violence.
Encouraging the community to refrain from committing crime, parolee, Victor Ndlovu who is a former Mathematics and English educator said that crime does not pay as it separates you from the family and also bring disgrace and psychosocial problems. However, he mentioned that change is possible.
One of the brave school learners from the area appealed to the South African Police Service (SAPS) to intervene in dealing with criminality and further pleaded with the perpetrators of crime to stop terrorising the community, robbing of the school assets and books as it affects their education. Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, Faith-Based Organisations, Local Economic Development Forum, Traditional Healers Organisation, Department of Social Development, Department of Basic Education also echoed the same sentiment and pledged to work with the community to eradicate crime in Marite.
Kgosi Mathupa Mokoena of Mathibela Tribal Authority, said the Marite Community has been gripped by fear borne out of a perception that criminals are working in cahoots with some law enforcement officials. He mentioned that several izimbizo and meetings to address crime challenges were held but have not yielded the best results as the levels of crimes continue to increase. Kgosi Mokoena said his people are scared to report criminal activities because they immediately become targets.
The SAPS Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakeleng Manamela, urged the community to report crimes happening in their area. Furthermore, she guaranteed the safety of community members who come forward with information to the police. “Suggestion boxes are placed in all the police stations in Mpumalanga to ensure that whistle-blowers who come forward with information are protected at all times,” said Manamela.
Commissioner Thobakgale said the level of crime in Marite is alarming, more so because the perpetrators are young people. “As government departments, we would want to start by planting a seed that will yield positive results and make it a point that we redirect the perpetrators from crime to different paths as plans to eradicate crime around the area are underway,” said Thobakgale.
He also urged criminals to stop committing crimes. Furthermore, he indicated that the department recently suffered a loss when one of officials from the area succumbed to his injuries when he was shot. The Commissioner lamented the debilitating loss of a dedicated official, and was at pains to highlight that this was not the first fatal incident involving an official in the area.
The Bushbuckridge Local Municipality expressed words of gratitude to the department for hosting the crime awareness imbizo in Marite as the area is in dire need of intervention from all government departments to combat crime.
Various public service department and private institutions also set up one-stop service delivery stations and showcased products and services while the Department of Correctional Services donated agricultural products exhibited during the Imbizo to Sizabantwana Children Benefit Organisation.
