DR RADEBE ASSISTS IN COMBATING STOCK THEFT CRIME IN CLOCOLAN.

On January 18, 2024, Dr Radebe, through his Foundation, The Dr S.B. Radebe Foundation, donated a mini-bus taxi to the local Crime Patrol Unit (CPU) in Clocolan situated in Free State.

In attendance to witness the handover of the mini-bus were Ward Councillor Mr. Koalane, Mr. Mohapi from the MEC’s office, Mr. Jarose, who is the Municipality Liaison Officer, Captain Mahloane, and representing the farmers’ association, Mr. Dion Roux, amongst others.

The donation of the mini-bus taxi came as a result of the extraordinary work that has and continues to be done by the Clocolan Rural Safety team a sub division of the CPU, who since 2021 have placed their lives on the line to patrol the surrounding areas to combat the rising criminal activities that have been taking place over time.

Clocolan, a farming community, is like any other farming town where cattle farms are breeding grounds for livestock thieves who cross the border from the neighbouring country into the town to steal cattle including other horrendous crimes.

“Safety in the rural areas is not a political issue; it is a serious issue that affects us all.” Said Bishop Salemane, a man of the cloth as well as a local businessman. The bishop implored politicians to stop racializing crime but to rather call for tolerance, unity and peace among community members in order to collectively fight crime. “I applaud Dr Radebe for ploughing back into the community; this is something that is very rare.”

Dr Radebe a renowned Afrikan indigenous Spiritual Guider, founded the Dr. SB Radebe Foundation as a vehicle to address social ills in Afrikan communities. In a collaborative spirit, Dr Radebe donated the minibus taxi to assist the patrollers to be more effective and efficient in covering more ground when patrolling.

“Firstly, I am a Spiritual Guider who assists a number of people who have been victims of crime. It is noteworthy that I am not a guest in Clocolan, as you may know, I have a mountain and a farm within this community, I contribute towards the development of this community, I have an affinity with this community, I have developed good working relationships with service providers from this community.

Secondly, as a farmer within this community, the crime levels in this community affect me as well. It is for these reasons I regard Clocolan as my second Home”, said Dr Radebe. In addition, Dr. Radebe stated that the donation is an act of Ubuntu, a character trait unique to Afrika and birthed from Afrikan indigenous spirituality. “Thus, I had to stand up, roll up my sleeves and do something to assist the Rural Safety team and by extension alleviate crime in the community.” Dr Radebe is a proponent of crime prevention and has, through his security company, Amahlubi Security, established Amabhungane, a patrol unit that operates in areas where The Revelation Spiritual Home exists, to ensure the safety of the members of the spiritual institution and the communities within which it operates.

The reality of the impact of crime in South Africa is seldom well analysed. Sadly, it has since become a norm where South Africans have become accustomed to it. Mr. Mohapi outlined the spiritual, traditional, cultural, and phycological impact of stock theft in the farming community, and said “at times you will see a widower dressed in her mourning garments and notice that they are worn out, and you wonder why she does not discard them, only to find out that the cow that was set aside to perform her cleansing ritual was stolen, and therefore she cannot perform this ceremony.” Mr. Mohapi further went on to share with the attendees that young girls and women in the communities around Clocolan and Ladybrand have been victims of abduction, rape, and robbery, and as a result, they have lost all hope in the men within their communities.

To that end, he made a plea to Spiritual and Religious leaders to go visit these communities and offer prayer for all victims of crime including words of encouragement, which will play a major role in rehabilitating these victims. Farm killings and stock theft in South Africa have been on the rise for many years, according to Mr. Dion Roux, “over two million worth of live stock has been lost due to cattle theft.” Mr. Roux went on to explain that since the Rural Safety team started patrolling the area, especially near Celadon, which is the hot spot for cattle theft, crime has decreased significantly. “From the months of November and December, there haven’t been any cases of stolen cattle.” Mr. Roux added.