North West MEC for Public Safety, Howard Yawa in paying tribute to Johny Pitso, Secretary of the Provincial Community Policy Board, described his untimely death as great loss to communities in the North West and the people of South Africa. Thirty-six year aged Pitso who succumbed to short illness at Tshepong Hospital in Klerksdorp last week was buried on Saturday morning in Utlwanang outside Christiana.
In a speech read on behalf of MEC Yawa by the Deputy Chairperson of the Provincial Community Policing Board, Jessy Nchochoba, Yawa said that Pitso was a brilliant leader who could articulate the aspiration and wishes of communities for democratic and accountable community policing without fear or favour.“Leaders of the make-up and calibre of Johny Pitso are a rare breed. His premature death has robbed communities of a selfless cadre and a man of integrity who did not subscribe to populism, individualism or compromise on principle. He was an unpolished gem that still had to shine brighter to give hope to our communities at the sphere of local government given his experience and in the war against crime,” said Yawa.
He further said that Pitso had left gigantic footprints that have made an indelible mark in the sand of time for many within his community, the glorious movement of the African National Congress (ANC) and the revolutionary alliance to emulate his selfless and heroic deeds.
Pitso had served as Provincial Executive Member for South Africa Local Government Association North West and ANC Councillor in Lekwa Teemane Local Municipality (2000 to 2005). He had served as a Chairperson, Secretary and member of the Community Policing Forum in Christiana for seven years and as Chairperson of the Wolmaranstad CPF Cluster Board (previously named Area Board) from 2007 to 2009.
Pitso was employed as a Performance Manager by Lekwa Teemane Local Municipality from September 2009 and elected to the position of Secretary for the North West Provincial Community Policing Board in October last year.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
