THOHOYANDOU – "We need peace to create a condition of safety and security. People must fight against crime, rape and robbery, and destroy this demon that is destroying our communities," said the Minister of Safety and Security, Mr Charles Ngcakula. He visited the Vhembe Area as part of his Imbizo programme on Tuesday. SAPS members, CPF members, traditional healers and leaders from around the Limpopo Province gathered at the Thohoyandou Town Hall to discuss their problems with the minister. Ngcakula stated that the community and the SAPS must work together to stop the high crime rate in South Africa. He added that the country must take drastic measures to defeat crime and "to save the country as a whole." He discussed the role of traditional leaders and said they must be respected, as they are part of the history of the country. "We are very proud about our traditional leaders and our religious leaders, because they provide us with the right direction to follow. We as the Department of Safety and Security are ready to protect even the people who are staying in rural areas. He appealed to people who own their own firearms to use them responsibly and "not to kill our cops, because they are protecting you as a nation." He added that the community should not allow corruption within the SAPS. "If we find them, we will root them out without hesitation," said minister Ngcakula. The CPF of Levubu thanked the MEC for Safety and Security, Mrs Dikeledi Magadzi, for intervening in the station after there was a dispute. She confirmed that the security situation in Levubu was a problem and that she gave the Levubu Police Station a period of three months to resolve the matter completely.