Residents of Taung in the North West called on the government to build more police stations to help fight crime in the area.
According to the residents, Taung which comprises 136 villages and a population of more than 600 000 residents has four police stations in Kgomotso, Reivilo, Taung CBD, and Pudimong.
One of the community leaders, Bakang Mankuroane, said the four police stations in the area were not enough.
“Let’s just assume that each station has 250 officials. It means in Taung; we have thousands of police officials in general. Are we saying that a thousand police officials are enough to police effectively a population of over 600 000.
“We need more police stations, at least five or six. We need more satellite police stations that will be strategically positioned. So that they should be able to act quickly when there are acts of criminality happening in Taung, it’s then when we will be able to decrease the high rate of livestock theft, robbery and clamp down crime in general,” Mankuroane said.
Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier, Sabata Mokgwabone said there were no plans to build extra police stations in the area.
“It does not appear that there is a plan currently to increase the number of police stations in the area. Taung is part of the Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, that comprises of 19 police stations. There are no satellite police stations in operation in the area. The one that was in Kokomeng was allegedly set alight by members of the community,” Mokgwabone said.
Police said communities can still apply for more police stations through the office of the Provincial Commissioner.