While crime is at a high in Ikageng and the community and police officers are in dire need of a bigger police station, it is stated that

the provincial police headquarters will be moved from Potchefstroom to Mahikeng at a cost of R371 million. This was said by the Provincial Police Commissioner,

Lt Genl Zukiswa Mbombo at a national assembly during a Police Oversight Committee Meeting on 8 February.

The matter was raised by a committee member, Mr Pieter Groenewald, of the Freedom Front Plus.

WespolPlein has been a landmark in the heart of Potchefstroom since 1913, but the MEC (Member of Executive Committee) of Human Settlements, Public

safety and Liaison, Ms Desbo Mohono, announced that she wants it to move to North West’s capital city, as reported in Herald of 7 July last year. 

Mohono also wants to change the name as, she points out, Wespol (Western Transvaal Police) ceased to be relevant when the Transvaal changed its name 17 years ago.

When addressing Mbombo, Mohono said that Mahikeng is the provincial seat of Government and all other provincial head offices are located there. She

urged Mbombo to start engaging in the necessary consultation processes with relevant authorities and stakeholders regarding the relocation process.

'It is unacceptable for the police headquarters to be 200 km’s away from the provincial legislature and seat of government,' she said.

Brig. Thulani Ngubane, Provincial Police Spokesperson, confirmed that consultations are in process to relocate and it is amounting to millions, which includes

more than 400 staff members that will be affected. He further highlighted that the costs will include resources, relocation fees of personnel and their accommodation.

The move from Potchefstroom to Mahikeng will be strategic and assist in the proper co-ordination and management of the police.

Mr Lesiba Kgwele, acting spokesperson of the premier’s office said, ‘It has always been a concern of the Provincial

Government to relocate the police headquarters over a period of ten years. And now we are preparing ourselves to host the headquarters in

Mahikeng and we are supporting it in every way. Everything is well planned and we are expecting no hassles.'

The Premier, Ms Thandi Modise, will outline the provincial plan of relocating the police headquarters from Potchefstroom to Mahikeng on Friday, 17 February,

in her State of the Province Address.’ 

Caption: NW police headquarters to be moved from Potchefstroom to Mahikeng, the capital city of the province, at a cost of R371 million.