Vrystaat Landbou het gister, as deel van sy landelike veiligheidsplan, boere en SAPD-lede se paraatheid en reaksie getoets tydens n groot wit/ bloulig operasie. Die Lejweleputswa-distrik, wat die afgelope tyd erg onder misdaad deurgeloop het, was gisteraand ‘n gewemel van voertuie toe sowat 400 boere saam met lede van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens (SAPD) ’n distriks wit/ bloulig operasie gehou het.

Die operasie vorm deel van die Landelike Beveiligheidsplan wat maandeliks in distrikte en stasies gesamentlik moet plaasvind. Die sigbaarheid van boere en die polisie speel ‘n groot rol in die voorkoming van misdade op landbougrond en is dus noodsaaklik om gereeld plaas te vind.

Sowat 400 boere en 50 polisielede van dorpe soos Allanridge, Hoopstad, Wesselsbron, Winburg, Virginia, Theunissen, Odendaalsrus, Hennenman, Bultfontein, Welkom en Bothaville het saam met lede van die SAPD aan die wit/bloulig operasie deelgeneem. Mnr Jakkals le Roux, voorsitter van VL se Veiligheidskomitee, sê dat daar ook ‘n plaasaanval inoefening plaasgevind het om die reaksiespan se optrede te toets. Aspekte soos bewaring van die misdaadtoneel, monitor van die reaksiegroep het deelgevorm van dié inoefening.

Die Lejweleputswa–distrik is die toenemende teiken van ernstige geweldsmisdade (plaasaanvalle), groot veediefstalle en skroot/koper kabeldiefstal. Die distrik het die afgelope tyd 6 plaasaanvalle beleef.

“Die operasies gebeur op ‘n gereelde grondslag en het ten doel om boere meer paraat te maak, sigbaarheid te verhoog en probleemareas te identifiseer wat gesamentlik met die polisie aangespreek moet word,” het le Roux gesê. “Ons wil boere aanmoedig om by hul plaaslike veiligheidstrukture betrokke te raak. Die aanslag op ons boere is deesdae net te groot en ons kan nie meer bekostig om nie betrokke te wees nie.“ sê le Roux.

Die publiek kan bydra tot Vrystaat Landbou se landelike veiligheid inisiatiewe deur die woord VEILIG te SMS na 37846. (R1/SMS. B’s & V’s geld).

About 400 Free State farmers participate in white / blue light operation with SAPS

Free State Agriculture, as part of its rural security plan, tested the readiness and reaction of farmers and SAPS members yesterday during a large white / blue light operation. The Lejweleputswa district, which has recently been hit hard by crime, was a bustle of activity last night when about 400 farmers together with members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) held a district white / blue light operation.

The operation forms part of the Rural Safety Plan which is to take place monthly in districts and stations jointly. The visibility of farmers and the police plays a major role in preventing crime on agricultural land and is therefore essential to take place on a regular basis.

About 400 farmers and 50 police members from towns such as Allanridge, Hoopstad, Wesselsbron, Winburg, Virginia, Theunissen, Odendaalsrus, Hennenman, Bultfontein, Welkom and Bothaville participated in the white / blue light operation together with members of the SAPS. Jakkals le Roux, chairman of the FSA’s Safety Committee, says that a simulation of a farm attack also took place to monitor the reaction team. Aspects such as conservation of the crime scene and monitoring of the response group formed part of this exercise.

The Lejweleputswa district is the increasing target of serious violent crimes (farm attacks), large stock thefts and scrap / copper cable theft. The district recently experienced 6 farm attacks in less than two months.

“The operations take place on a regular basis and aim to make farmers more prepared, increase visibility and identify problem areas that need to be addressed jointly with the police,” le Roux said.

“We want to encourage farmers to get involved with their local safety structures. The pressure on our farmers these days is just too great and we can no longer afford not to be involved.” says le Roux.

The public can contribute to Free State Agriculture’s rural safety initiatives by texting the word SAFETY to 37846. (R1 / SMS. T’s & C’s apply).