MINISTER of Police, Lepota Sekola has pledged that the rampant torching of homes in Tlokoeng, Thaba-Tseka will be a thing of the past as soon as a police post has been built in the neighbouring village of Bobete.

He was addressing a public gathering in Ha Khoaisanyane on Wednesday after a recent spate of arson cases in the village.

Mr Sekola warned the residents of the village to instantly refrain from criminal activities or face the might of the law.

He further warned the perpetrators of the acts that the government will not tolerate the criminal activities, which are destroying people’s lives and property.

“We are aware that we are dealing with a stubborn community, but things will calm down within a week as it only a portion of the community that is involved in these activities,” the minister said.

He pledged that the rampant torching of houses and use of protected rangelands will soon be history.
“I am going to work hard to ensure that there is a police post built in the neighbouring village of Bobete,” he further promised.

Speaking at the same occasion, the Minister of Law and Constitutional Affairs, Advocate Lekhetho Rakuoane said in the past years, livestock theft was high in the area, adding that it appears people have now changed to arson.

“It is even disappointing to hear that this happened after the hours when liquor stores were supposed to have closed. It is clear that the root cause of these acts is drunkenness,” the minister also said.
A Member of Parliament for Semena, Tlohelang Aumane said the number of crimes that are taking place in Tlokoeng should ring a bell to the police that something is not right in the area.