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NATCOM OPENS NEW RENT-FREE SIPHOFANENI POLICE POST

By Musa Simelane | 2024-12-29

National Commissioner (NatCom) of Police, Manoma Vusi Masango yesterday officially opened the new Siphofaneni Police Post at the Siphofaneni Plaza in a significant step towards enhancing community safety and security.

The new police post structure, generously provided for use free of charge by the MA Group, represents a crucial milestone in bringing policing services closer to the people.

The post is expected to enhance the law enforcement presence in the area, promote community engagement, and ensure that residents can access essential policing services more efficiently.

In his address, the commissioner emphasised the importance of decentralised policing in fostering trust, accessibility, and swift response to community needs. The initiative aligns with national efforts to prioritise the safety and well-being of citizens, reinforcing the role of partnerships in achieving this goal.

“As Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), we are grateful for this structure, which you saw fit to be used as a police post.

“His Majesty King Mswati III, through government, declared that there should be decentralisation of services.

“This indeed falls in line with this declaration. To us it also shows that the MA Group is concerned about the nation,” said Masango.

He lauded the group for being involved in many other initiatives that benefit Emaswati. He said this gesture of giving back to communities is the way to live because it will attract blessings from God.

Masango also assured that the structure would be well taken care of by the REPS.
The commissioner acknowledged that Siphofaneni Police Station was far from town, and if a crime occurs in the town centre, it would take some time before the victim reached the station to report the crime.

The perpetrator would be long gone by then. “But if we have police nearby, it means that crime will be dealt with quickly and efficiently.

The perpetrator will be apprehended in no time in order to face the law. Now, the onus is upon the police, especially the station commander and Lubombo regional commissioner, to ensure that crime levels (if they are high in this area) to start going down because of this post,” said the commissioner.

Some of the leading crimes in Siphofaneni was stock theft and the Facata gang, which the police were expected to curtail as policing was now closer to the people.

Meanwhile MA Group Executive Director, MA Dlamini, lauded REPS for the great cooperation with MA Properties leading to the establishment of the police post. Dlamini made it clear that no monthly rent would be required from the REPS for occupying the post.

The service would only pay for water and electricity.
The director said as much as there were many statutory functions performed by the police, it should also be known that the business sector would also benefit too.

People who will seek the service of police at the post, they would most likely also spend money at the shopping centre.

“This will be a mutually beneficial relationship and we, too, are grateful for your cooperation. My request though, is that police officers would keep the premises in good condition at all times.
We are so grateful for this partnership with REPS,” said Dlamini.

The director also mentioned that the group is also building another shopping centre at Fairview in Manzini, where the need for a police post is much bigger because of the high level of crime there. He hoped that the commissioner would avail himself when it is time to officially open a post there.

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