The Sunday News
Precious Maphosa, Sunday News Reporter
COMMUNITIES in Esigodini and surrounding areas have been urged to come up with local police reservist groups to monitor criminal activities following complaints that cases were taking long to be attended to because police bases were far away.
A police reservist is a person appointed by the police superiors as a member of the Reserve Police Service to render services as a volunteer in support of the police.
In an interview, Umzingwane Member of Parliament Retired Brigadier-General Levi Mayihlome said communities should come together and engage the police to form the groups.
Most cases in the area are attended by police in Esigodini but some outlying areas are more than 30 kilometres from bases.
“Let’s be realistic, while we understand the challenge that the community is facing, but on the other hand police cannot be in every village because there is a cost associated with it.
“There is a need for communities to form police reservists who will assist the police in ensuring there is peace and order.
“These reservists will be in each ward. This will also reduce operating costs,” he said.
Rtd Brig-Gen Mayihlome also appealed to the Government to avail police with vehicles to help them in their operations.
“As a community as well we have appealed to the Government to make sure the police are allocated vehicles both at local level and national level, so that they are able to reach out everywhere and not expect the communities to find their own vehicles to do police work.
“Police should have their own vehicles so that they are able to go around and help the community if they have issues,” he said.
He also added there was a need to revamp the old cattle sale pens so that police can clear livestock for sale at one place.
“If there was a cattle sale pen which was functional or viable in Esigodini, villagers would take their cattle to that place to get licences and also clear for selling, this would be easier for the police instead of moving around every village to clear cattle,” said Brig-Gen Mayihlome.
@PreciousMaphos7
