The newly appointed North West police commissioner, Arthur Peter Adams, has vowed to hit the ground running, with the fight against illegal mining among his top priorities.
Adams will officially take over as the province’s police commissioner from 1 August, bringing 34 years of policing experience to the role.
He has acknowledged the scale of the challenges facing the province but says communities should not be expected to live with the lawlessness associated with illegal mining.
Adams says tackling illegal mining and restoring law and order will require a focused and coordinated approach.
The North West faces a number of longstanding challenges, with policing in the province also coming under scrutiny amid ongoing concerns about crime and corruption.
The provincial government has pledged its support for Adams as he takes on the role and works to strengthen the fight against crime.
However, Premier Lazarus Mokgosi has also called for greater discipline within the police service, particularly as corruption investigations continue.
Adams has urged officers to remain focused on their responsibilities and not allow the challenges facing the department to distract them from serving their communities.
He says police must continue carrying out their duties while working to restore public confidence in the province's law enforcement agencies.