Police commissioner visits Marapong

LEPHALALE - The national police commissioner, Riah Phiyega, and the Deputy Minis-ter of Police, Maggie Sotyu, launched the provincial community outreach programme in Marapong last Tuesday. More than 4000 people gathered at the Marapong sports grounds to attend the event aimed at reaching out to communities in order to promote a better working relationship with the police.
The commissioner and deputy minister also visited the Phigelelo High School. Phiyega told learners that the partnership between the school and the police will in future be strengthened. She then introduced a team of police who have adopted the school and assured learners that their days of fearing for their lives at school have ended.
The visit at school afforded the learners an opportunity to voice their concerns and issues ranging from the abuse of drugs, bringing dangerous weapons at school and gangs were some of the issues discussed.  Head girl, Caroline Lebogo pleaded with the police to make regular-unannounced visits to the school. “We have a problem of high rate of teenage pregnancy at this school. Many of our girls bunk school, especially during month end because employees from Medupi power station come and lure them with money and then impregnate them. This has to stop and the police must come to our rescue,” Lebogo said.
Her concerns were echoed by the deputy minister Sotyu who, when speaking to the crowd at the stadium, warned learners against Satanism and encouraged cooperation between the police, educators and parents to safeguard children. “It is disgrace to hear that older people dangle money in the faces of our children and entice them into having unprotected sex with them. We are pleading with our youth not to fall for that, you need to love yourself more than money,” an overwhelmed Sotyu said.
Speaking in her native Pedi, General Phiyega said the police realised that safety, security, peace and order cannot be police issues only. “Every nation that seeks peace, order, stability, safety and security must come together and share responsibilities for all citizens to live in harmony. Somebody, somewhere, somehow, knows something about crime,” she said.