Ntombela was speaking at a Safety and Security Summit organised by the Matjhabeng Local Municipality and the SA Police Service in Welkom under the theme "Safety Through Multi-Collaboration on Local Level".

She emphasised that women and children need to be protected as they are most vulnerable against criminality. This, after stating that gender-based violence (GBV) is the most prominent crime committed in the province, based on the police’s crime statistics.  

Ntombela says crimes such as stock theft, hijackings, drugs and murder cannot be ignored and should be dealt with decisively.

The Free State MEC for Police, Roads and Transport, William Bulwane, reiterated the importance of collaborating with the community to fight crime. He also acknowledged that community members have lost faith in police officers but that the police are “working overtime to restore their trust”.

Lesotho’s Minister of Home Affairs, Motlalentoa Letsosa, raised concerns over undocumented foreign nationals as they might “pose a threat to the countries where they are illegally residing”. Letsosa says the government of Lesotho is against all forms of criminality, whether committed against the laws of Lesotho or any other country.

ALSO READ: Refrain from hiring foreign nationals with no permits - FS Agriculture MEC

The MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Thembeni Nxangisa, previously called on livestock owners to refrain from hiring foreign nationals who do not have the required permits to work in the country.

“Employing foreign nationals who don’t have work permits presents a challenge when they commit a crime, as it is difficult to trace them.”

ALSO READ: Attacks on foreigners are racist, criminal and immoral

President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this year wrote in his weekly newsletter that acts of lawlessness directed at foreign nationals, whether they are documented or undocumented, cannot be tolerated. His letter followed after incidents of anti-foreigner sentiment in parts of the country which he stated, “echo the apartheid past”.

ALSO READ: Some FS police 'work with the criminals'

Free State Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Solly Lesia, earlier this year issued a warning to police who teamed up with criminals. Lesia had told OFM News that there was a huge number of crimes registered against police officers and that over fifty police officers have been shown the door between 2021 and 2022, due to fraudulent activities.

OFM News