New station commissioner reduces crime at Elukwatini

Mpumalanga Best Police Station Commissioner, Colonel Dorah Xaba is continuing to do wonders regardless of where she is stationed.

The winner of the Best Overall Police Station in Mpumalanga, Colonel Xaba, scooped the awards while she was still responsible for the Schoemansdal Police Station in Nkomazi before being promoted to Elukwatini Police Station where she is now the top cop in the area.

Barely a year, Colonel Xaba has reduced crime at Elukwatini Police Station by almost 50 percent since she took over early this year.

The station commissioner has successfully increased the number of community patrol teams in that area which is close to the Swaziland border.

She has also successfully managed to close down some unlicensed liquor outlets which were regarded by many as one of the contributing factors to crime.

Xaba has also made a breakthrough in arresting suspects linked to stolen and unlicensed vehicles.

Xaba’s success was revealed during the hand-over ceremony of patrolling equipments, including reflector jackets and torches to community policing forum members at Elukwatini’s Siphumelele Hall yesterday, Thursday, 29 July 2010 by the Mpumalanga Department of Safety, Security and Liaison (DSSL).

Speaking at that event, DSSL Head of Department Mr Isaiah Khoza congratulated the station commissioner saying that other commissioners from other police stations should learn from her.

Khoza further encouraged the community to work with the police saying Xaba succeeded because of their support.

He said it was in that regard that the department was there to support the community patrol teams by giving them the equipments in order to be easily identified by the community and the police.

Khoza however added that the resources given to the community patrol teams were not “licenses” for them to become gangsters and do crime against the community.

“We must make sure that we do not allow criminals who claim to be part of the patrolling teams to use these resources in committing crime,” said Khoza.

He also added that environmental factors such as darkness and terrain were contributing to crime. He urged that councilors be responsible for making sure that there are no places in the communities that could be used to the benefit of criminals against law abiding citizens.

He encouraged the community to come up with projects that would help keep the youth away from the streets.

Provincial Community Police Forum Board General Secretary, Mr Zwelibanzi Hlatshwayo thanked the department saying that the resources would assist the patrol teams in doing their job. He encouraged the community patrol teams to continue reporting crime to the police.

Hlatshwayo however told the community to be aware that patrol teams must be linked to the Provincial Community Policing structures. He said that individuals should not establish their own patrol teams, they must be known by police stations of that area.

Enquiries:
Joseph Mabuza
Tel: 013 766 4055
Cell: 082 678 1450

Source: Department of Safety, Security and Liaison, Mpumalanga Provincial Government