Col. Sabata Mokgwabone of the SAPS warned residents of Coligny not to appoint private security services, as it was the Police’s mandate to protect people and their properties. However, AfriForum encourages people to act within the framework of the law by joining existing farm and neighbourhood watches or by contracting private security firms in cases where the Police fail in their duty to protect lives and property.
“People may legally make use of private security or join neighbourhood watches to protect themselves and their properties. So far, the Police could not really succeed in keeping the peace in Coligny. Although the Police on ground level truly did their best to act and the situation has calmed down since, four house were nevertheless torched yesterday,” says Ian Cameron, AfriForum’s Head of Community Safety.