Thamaga crime declines
Spira Tlhankane | Thursday October 8, 2015 15:07
In an interview, Makgoeng said they recorded minor incidents during the Independence holidays. “Some violent attacks still exist but they are not prevalent like last year where we had to ask for reinforcements,” he said.
Special Support Group officers were deployed to Thamaga last year due to rampant gang violence in the village which resulted in the death of a 68-year-old woman.
Makgoeng said before the holidays they asked for reinforcement from the Police College to help patrol the whole area. “By independence eve Thamaga police was riding solo because there was no need to involve an outside party,” he said.
He said the gang related acts are now a thing of the past and no youth group declared terror during the independence holidays.
Makgoeng said the minor crimes are being dealt with at the kgotla where the culprits receive corporal punishment. He said they had also come up with different ways to curb crime in Thamaga.
“We have involved the Botswana Institute of Rehabilitation for Ex-Offenders (BIRO) to help sensitise the youth in Thamaga,” he said. Makgoeng further said BIRO hosted boot camps with the intention of warning Thamaga youth on the dangers of crime and the harsh conditions in prison.
Makgoeng said BIRO had made progress in sensitising Thamaga youth about alcohol and drug abuse. “In the end our mandate is to obliterate youth delinquency and gangsterism,” he said.