A talk with the police
When we arrived at the official opening of Joza Police station, we could see that it was a big occasion. The station was being by Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa. The environment of hte press conference was a new experience for us, as journalists covering local news issues. This was a formal setting, with proper procedures that needed to be followed.
We began to some of the community members who were attending the event, asking them how they felt about the newly opened police station. It seemed to us that it was preposterous that Grahamstown had only one police station ‘protecting’ Joza. They would be serve a community of more than 40 000 people. Having the new station in town was of course an improvement. Before this, the closest station was located in the centre of Grahamstown, making it costly or difficult for the people of Joza and the surrounding rural areas to access police services.
After the ceremony was done we went to the press room where we were given the opportunity to pose questions to the minister. We asked him why the police were not protecting government owned infrastructures such as the Benjamin Mahlasela High School, stopping it from being vandalised. He explained that he was unaware of the situation at the school and promised he would have the matter looked into.
After the press conference we attended the lunch, where the Grahamstown police spokesperson Mali Govender asked us if we had talked to the minister about the school. So now at least we feel the situation at the school is being taken seriously by those in positions of authority. And maybe the Masabelane team had something to do with this...