POLICE’S OUTREACH PROGRAMMES BENEFIT BRITS AND LETLHABILE SCHOOLS!
The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the North West province spent part of this week strengthening ties with local communities through a series of outreach programmes aimed at supporting vulnerable learners and addressing crime-related concerns.
The initiatives, which took place in the Brits and Letlhabile policing areas, formed part of SAPS’ broader commitment to community engagement, crime prevention, and social development.
On Wednesday, SAPS members from the Brits area partnered with several stakeholders to donate essential items to learners at Kleinfontein Primary School.
The initiative, led by the Office of the District Police Officer (DPO) for Communication, was carried out in collaboration with the Community Policing Forum (CPF), Spiritual Crime Prevention structures, the Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs’ Liquor Licensing Directorate, the Brits Liquor Forum, and local liquor outlet owners.
The donation drive was aimed at assisting learners from disadvantaged backgrounds who often face challenges in obtaining basic school necessities.
During the event, a total of 35 learners identified by the school received new school shoes, school uniforms, backpacks, water bottles, and sanitary pads.
According to organisers, the programme was inspired by the growing awareness that many families in the area struggle with socio-economic difficulties that affect their ability to provide children with proper school attire and learning essentials.
SAPS representatives said that the police service forms an integral part of society and cannot ignore the everyday challenges faced by vulnerable members of the community.
“As law enforcement officers, we are not only responsible for combating crime, but also for ensuring that we play a positive role in uplifting the communities we serve,” a SAPS representative involved in the initiative said.
Organisers noted that the lack of proper school uniforms can have a negative impact on learners’ confidence and participation in school activities. Children who do not have adequate clothing often face embarrassment or ridicule from their peers, which may lead to reluctance to attend school.
Particular attention was also given to the needs of female learners, who were provided with sanitary products to ensure they can continue attending school with dignity and without unnecessary interruptions to their education.
Kleinfontein Primary School principal Mr Manana welcomed the initiative and expressed appreciation to SAPS and its partners for the support.
“This generous gesture means a great deal to the learners and the school community. It reminds us that raising and educating children is a collective responsibility. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child,” he said.
While the donation programme focused on uplifting learners in Brits, SAPS members were also active in the Letlhabile policing area where they hosted a rural safety imbizo and a safer schools awareness campaign aimed at tackling crime and social challenges affecting the community.
The event was facilitated by management from Bojanala Sub-District 1 together with Letlhabile SAPS management under the leadership of Acting District Commissioner Brigadier Noriel Kepadisa.
Members from various police stations in the district, as well as Community Police Officers (CPOs), also participated in the engagement.
Community members gathered at the Letlhabile Community Hall where they were given an opportunity to raise concerns and engage directly with police leadership in what SAPS described as a service delivery dialogue.
Residents highlighted several pressing issues affecting their communities, including high levels of crime, drug dealing and substance abuse. Concerns were also raised about unresolved cases and allegations of misconduct involving police services.
SAPS leadership, including Detective Coordinator Colonel Rankopeleng Morapedi and Letlhabile Station Commander Colonel Soyaphi Hlongwane, responded to these concerns and outlined steps that would be taken to address the issues raised by residents.
Police officials emphasised that community cooperation remains essential in the fight against crime, urging residents to work closely with SAPS and community structures to improve safety in their areas.
In addition to the imbizo, SAPS Community Police Officers led by Sergeant Kagiso Rakoto conducted visits to several schools in the area, including Ikatisong, Eletsa, Lot Mashiane and Mmadikete Lion schools.
The visits formed part of the Safer Schools campaign aimed at addressing the growing problem of gangsterism among learners as well as incidents of bullying taking place in and around schools.
During the awareness sessions, police officials encouraged learners to avoid criminal activities and to report incidents of violence, intimidation, or gang recruitment. They also stressed the importance of cooperation between school management, school governing bodies, parents, the Community Policing Forum and SAPS in creating safer learning environments.
SAPS officials said the combined initiatives in Brits and Letlhabile demonstrate the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies, government departments, businesses and community organisations in addressing both social and crime-related challenges.
By supporting learners and engaging communities directly, police hope to build stronger relationships with residents while contributing to safer and more supportive environments for young people to grow and learn.