A recent meeting at Realogile Secondary School, convened by the local police and the Community Policing Forum (CPF) in Sector 3, put crime in focus, and police on the spot.
According to CPF interim chairperson Sibabalo Mgijima, the meeting, held on Wednesday, was designed to give residents an overview of crime in the sector, while allowing police to account to the community.

Police revealed that between December and February, the sector was battered by murders and attempted murders, though the rate of these cases remained stable. Assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and common assault, however, continue to be high. Police noted that they need to fight this crime, because in some instances it escalates, and results in attempted murders and murders.

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The sector is also grappling with sexual offences, common robberies, and robberies. While most crime categories remain stable, aggravated robbery is rising, and reported crimes typically peak on weekends, as well as Mondays and Fridays between 18:00–20:00 and 23:00–00:00.

Trip crimes, which involve carjackings, house robberies, and business robberies, are a major concern in the area. Visible Police Commander Colonel Jerry Phaswana said ten carjacking cases have been recorded in the sector.

@caxtonjoburgnorth WATCH: Visible Policing Commander Colonel Jerry Phaswana emphasises the Community Policing Forum as a key link in restoring trust and co-operation between police and residents. Video: Itumeleng Maloka #Alex #CPF ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North

Police emphasised the need to increase their visibility to deal with these, noting that they need to be on the ground to patrol.

Phaswana pointed to drugs, alcohol abuse, unlicensed firearms, and undocumented immigrants as key drivers of crime. “There are people who are pushing drugs in these sectors, and some of you sitting here, you know those people.”

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He urged residents to share information about drug dealers and illegal firearms, while sharing just how problematic withholding information from the police can be, especially in cases where they know someone who owns an unlicensed firearm, but are not reporting that person. “These [armed] boys, when they do these things, sometimes they are under the influence, and they can kill you without even knowing that it was you.”

Additionally, Phaswana raised concerns about landlords who harbour undocumented immigrants, without verifying their employment or activities, reminding residents that this is a punishable offence. He said it is only through community patrol and unity that they can address crime in the sector. “It is not going to assist us to point fingers. If you have information, come and share with us. Alone, [police] are nothing. There must a community that is working with the police. That is why there’s the CPF.”

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