Pretoria - Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa has laid down the law to the police and criminals in the North West at the official opening of the Jourberton Police Station on Thursday.
The new police station was a warning to criminals that their reign would soon end, he said, while at the same time he called on police officers stationed at Jouberton, to deliver.
"Our message to these criminals is clear: the party is over now. I have instructed the police to ensure that they harden their approach in their fight against criminals because we do not negotiate with criminals, the only language we can engage them in, is through arrest and punishment," he said.
Mthethwa also spelt out what he expected of North West police management.
"Our message as the leadership of police is simple: deliver. Serve these communities with respect, respond to their calls on time and ensure that you become a pain to the criminals. We hold a view that for as long as the streets of Jouberton are infested with drug lords, police must not rest. Parents must not rest. Communities must not rest."
Turning to the residents, the minister said they had to take up an oversight and monitoring role.
He called on them to track the performance of police officers and to report those who underperform, while congratulating those who excelled.
The minister reminded residents that the police station did not belong to him or police management but was the property of the people of Jourberton and its success or failure depended on them.
The police station was in the hands of community and would ensure that police services were closer to their homes.
"This Jouberton community, like many others in the country had been excluded from receiving basic services in the past. This exclusion included having to travel long distances to report crime.
"The construction of the Jouberton police station makes a categorical statement that no longer would we allow this community to walk long distances to lodge a complaint or report any criminal activity," he said.
