Graaff-reinet SAPS celebrates Mandela Day

GRAAFF-REINET — On Tuesday, July 18, local police, led by the Graaff-reinet Cluster Commander, Brigadier Rudolph Adolph, joined forces with the Graaff-reinet Community Policing Forum (CPF) and workers from the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality in celebration of Mandela Day.

During a short meeting, Brig Adolph explained that this initiative was aimed at safeguarding a section of veldt on the Northern side of Springbok Street between Kroonvale and Sunnyside.

This wooded section has become the hunting ground for unscrupulous criminals who are preying on pedestrians using the area as a shortcut to town.

Crimes such as rape, theft, assault and robbery were reported to have been committed in the area in recent times. The participants spent 67 minutes at cleaning away shrubs and thorn trees in the hope of depriving criminals of continuing with their hideous deeds.

The acting Municipal Manager, Jama Vumazonke, attended the celebrations and vowed to continue with the cleaning operation beyond July 18 until the area in question has been cleaned completely.

The event was concluded with members of the CPF distributing soup among the residents of Umasizakhe.

Police spokesperson, W/O Gerrie van Rooyen explained that Brigadier Adolph is committed to continuing with similar cleanup operations in order to ensure a safe and secure environment for all the communities of Graaff-reinet.

Van Rooyen thanked all who participated in the event and those who had assisted in carrying forward the legacy of the biggest statesman this country has ever known.