Tweefontein Community receives a state of the art police station
The people of Tweefontein in KwaMhlanga, in the Mpumalanga province believe that the newly built police station, recently handed over by Public Works Minister Mr TW Nxesi, will lower the rate of crime in and around Tweefontein.
Minister Nxesi was joined by Police Minister Mr EN Mthethwa in handing over the Tweefontein Police Station to the community. Other officials who attended the handing-over ceremony include the Police Station Commissioner Ms Zodwa Mashiyane, Mpumalanga Community Safety MEC Mr VR Shongwe and local traditional leaders.
The R29.6 million police station will serve over 23 villages in and around the Tweefontein area. According to the police station commissioner, Ms Zodwa Mashiyane, the most common crimes in the area include assault, robbery and theft. Mashiyane says the new structure is able to house all police units under one roof, which in the past were situated in different areas – that were far from each other.
During the construction of the police station, women and the youth from the local community were employed. Most of the subcontractors were also from the community. Minister Nxesi says 58 learners (35 males and 23 females) under the Expanded Public Works Programme’s (EPWP) National Youth Service were involved in the project in order to gain experience.
A local business owner Mr Piet Mutsweni has expressed delight at the fact that the Tweefontein Police Station has finally been completed and officially opened but raised a concern that the Police Station was situated near the busy Moloto Road. A local councillor Ms Davey Msibi concurs, saying an overheard pedestrian bridge should be built, to allow members of the community to safely cross the road to and from the Police Station. Minister Nxesi has noted the need for a pedestrian bridge, promising to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the bridge is built.
