Police athletes and cyclists bearing the torch of fitness and hope for strengthened partnerships to squeeze crime to zero departed from Rustenburg and arrived in the provincial capital of the North West Province, Mahikeng on Monday afternoon.
The torch was lit earlier in the day at the Olympia Park Stadium in Rustenburg by North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo to mark the launch of police week celebrations activities which will culminate into the National Police Day.
It was carried by a pack of 60 athletes mostly police officials from Rustenburg through N4 Bakwena Platinum Highway to Zeerust, Swartruggens then Mahikeng. High profiled athletes amongst them Ezekiel Sepeng, one of the most successful athletes in South African Athletics history and Andrew Kelehe, former Comrades Marathon winner and ten times gold medalist are among the police marathon runners that will be carrying the torch through major towns in the North West this week to encourage communities including members of the police service to keep fit for an intensified war to squeeze crime to zero.
In a speech delivered by Head of Department, Iqbal Motala on behalf of the Acting North West MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison at the Police Week launch and torch lighting ceremony, MEC Dr Magome Masike commended the men and women in dignified blue for their sterling performance during the 2010 Football World Cup.
“Wherever you were deployed, you provided vigilant eyes, professionalism and integrity through which we were seen and will continue to be seen by nations of the world for generations to come. We salute you for service with pride and dignity and for proving that you are second to none in terms of democratic policing the world over,” said MEC Masike.
The Acting MEC stressed that during the tournament, police were tried and tested in character and courage but they maintained their composure even under trying and stressful conditions and made us proud to be South African and African.
He further said that through the unwavering support and dedication of members of the police service, reservists, volunteers and the leadership collective of the South African Police Service, South Africa became the envy of the world and the pride of Africa.
The torch marathon to continue from Mahikeng to Vryburg then Taung and Christiana on Tuesday, then from Christiana through Bloemhof, Wolmaranstad and Klerksdorp on Wednesday. On Thursday, the torch marathon will depart from Klerksdorp and proceed to the Provincial Police Day Celebration to be held at the Ikageng Stadium in Potchefstroom.
The National Police Day to be hosted by National Commissioner, General Bheki Cele will be celebrated at Orlando Stadium on Friday, 28 January 2011.
Provincialmilestones being celebrated as part of Police Week include among others, the arrest and destruction of a drug syndicate in Klerksdorp, policing of the FIFA 2010 pre-World Cup Medical Summit, training of detectives and uniform members in case management to improve conviction rate and arrest of police officials who were involved in corruption across the province.
They also include improved police visibility, revamping of sector policing in all clusters to ensure that services are taken to people and strengthened collaborations and partnerships with the traditional leaders, business sector, public transport sector, churches, faith based organisations, NGOs that led to successful implementation of the firearm amnesty campaign.
Lieutenant General Mbombo stressed that though police are celebrating successes, they will still maintain their focus on crime prevention, fitness as they squeeze crime to zero with support from members of communities.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
