The hosts, Waterberg Academy and the Save the Waterberg Rhino, invited the community to celebrate World Rhino Day.
Since January this year, more than 300 rhinos have been poached in South Africa. Rhinos in the Waterberg form a crucial part of the tourist attractions and without them tourism and employment, would suffer.
The events kicked off on Wednesday 18 September with officers from the Modimolle cluster’s rural safety campaign and several other units, meeting with the community. Acting Provincial Commissioner Maj. Genl. Jan Scheepers responded to questions from residents.
While this was in progress, a suspicious man was seen running into the bush and the police gave chase. A helicopter was called in to provide backup and six people were arrested as a result.
With so many police officers in town, a further 28 suspects were arrested for offences varying from dealing in canabis, possession of suspected stolen goods, theft, illegal immigration and transgressing the Road Traffic Act.
On Thursday 19 September the police came in with the proverbial guns blazing with several units showing what they do best in the prevention of crime. The day commenced with a march lead by the police band, officers, members of Working on Fire, private security services such as Heritage Protection Group, members of the public and Marlene van Staden, mayor of the Modimolle-Mookgophong Municipality, the police’s mounted unit and the MACS’ Modimolle Bikers Club in the rear.
The adrenalin flowed when the police gave an unsettling demonstration of what happens during and after a hijacking incident.
Another demonstration followed, showing how private companies and the police react to prevent rhino poachers from killing these endangered animals.
As if this was not enough excitement for one day, the police’s search and rescue team also demonstrated how a police helicopter and swimmer saves a person from a flooding river — the flooding river in this case being the school’s swimming pool.
“Crime is destroying our future. I am inspired by what I have seen in the Waterberg this week. We need eyes and ears in the community,” said Maj. Genl Jan Scheepers.
He encouraged residents to speak up about criminal activities.
