POLOKWANE – As part of the implementation of the Rural Safety Strategy, which is aimed at ensuring safety and security and stamping authority in the rural and farming areas, including the protection and conservation of Rhino’s, the South African Police Service in Limpopo, from Wednesday the 18th to the 19th September 2019, held a protection and conservation of Rhinos event around the Modimolle Cluster in the Waterberg District and thereafter, embarked on a joint rural safety operation which produced significant results.
The activities commenced with a march by the SAPS members, the SAPS brass band and members from the Fire Safety and Prevention.
This activity were led by the Acting Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Major General Jan Scheepers accompanied the Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for HRM Major General Christine Morakaladi, the Provincial Head of Operational Coordination Brigadier Dikeledi Rebecca Mangena, the Provincial Head of Communication and Liaison Services Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, the Saps Modimolle Cluster Commander Brigadier Annalene Steyn, Officers and all the Cluster Units and Station Commanders.
In attendance was also members of the South African Police Service from all levels of command in the Province in partnership with the Rural Safety Structures in the Waterberg District including the private Security and the Game Wardens, members of the community and Learners from various schools in the Cluster.
These activities were in respect of the world celebration of protection and conservation of Rhinos which is held globally each year on the 22nd September aimed at educating community members about the importance of protecting the Rhinos against poachers and that Rhinos bring tourists from all over the world to the Waterberg area and this boosts the economy and enable people to be employed.
The South African Police Service, while protecting Rhinos against poachers, they are also performing Rural Safety functions as Poachers often make use of illegal firearms and by arresting them, helps to remove these firearms from the community.
Various Police Units and several other role players performed displays in their stalls being the SAPS Provincial Communication and Liaison Services, the South African National Parks, the Heritage Protection Group and the Department of Environmental Affairs.
The successes and activities achieved during this operation were as follows:
* 01x person arrested for Theft, 01x person arrested for Warrant of arrest for Drunk and driving, 03 x persons arrested for Dealing in dagga, 02 x persons arrested for non-compliance under the business Act, 01 x person arrested in terms of the Second hand goods Act,01 x person arrested for possession of stolen goods, 15 x persons arrested for contravention of Immigration Act and 04 x persons arrested for contravention of the Road Traffic Act.
The police recovered a large amount of dagga, suspected stolen properties and the expired food during this operation.
Other activities performed included the High Visibility at the shopping centres, locations and around the farms, 02 x Taverns were visited, 03 x Spaza shops were visited, 04 x businesses were visited, Farms were visited, Roadblocks were conducted, Vehicles and Persons were searched.
Acting Provincial Commissioner leads during Rural Safety High Density Operation https://t.co/Etr1PkF1Eh #ArriveAlive #Operation #SaferCommunities @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/2Jx1EowNOj
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) September 20, 2019