Residents to fight crime through sports

The crime-busting community of Maniini K-Portion, which made history in Vhembe in 2013 by introducing bicycles for street patrols at night, never tires of coming up with new ways of fighting crime.

The close-knit community, which had been overwhelmed with crime two years ago, has managed to neutralise it and is now taking the fight further by using sport as a weapon.

About a week ago, they received soccer equipment donated by local businesspeople as a way of using sport to fight crime. Through sport they hope to rid their area of crime completely.

Sports portfolio spokesperson Eric Ravele they had identified sport as another alternative to intensify their fight against crime. “Through the crime-fighting campaign we launched in 2013, we managed to bring crime to its knees here, but there are still a few who are involved in crime. We are not yet satisfied as there are still incidents here and there."

He added that they had started a soccer team, but did not have any equipment, "and that was when the community pooled together for funds, but it was not enough. Today we are happy as our local businesspeople have given us more resources, and this will keep more of our boys off the streets."

Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, businessman Justice Nemaguvhuni of Justfix Auto at Shayandima said crime had a negative impact on business. "If we do not support initiatives like this one, we will not be doing justice to our youth. 

Sport will keep them away from all social ills.Who knows, we might even produce stars who will make us proud in the future," he said.

The new club Manini Block K and R FC received soccer balls and nets donated by the local businesspeople. They also paid the affiliation fee to the Thulamela Football Association.

Date:22 April 2015

By: Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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