Alexandra police have set a date for the election of new Community Policing Forum (CPF) structures, ending months of uncertainty after two consecutive community meetings on the process.

Alexandra Police Station commander Brigadier Vusimuzi Ngubane said all four sectors will go to the polls on October 10 at 09:00. Sector 1 will vote at Central Johannesburg College, Sector 2 at Ithute Primary School, Sector 3 at Realogile High School and Sector 4 at East Bank High School.

Read more: CPF meeting to spotlight crime in Sector 4

The announcement answers the call from numerous community organisations, which spent much of the year pressing police to commit to a date. Some residents even reported losing hope in the CPF elections and have drawn back from participating in meetings. The extent of this despondency was seen at two recent imbizos the police held in Alexandra, where turnout was poor.

The meetings, which focused on eligibility criteria, were a deliberate effort by the police to establish who qualifies and does not qualify to be elected. Ngubane said that clarity was essential to head off disputes that could taint the new structure before it begins its work, noting the previous CPF was crippled by infighting that led to its disbandment.

Police want new members rather than those who served on the old structures, according to Ngubane, so that they can be properly inducted from the outset. He said that induction will be central to the stability of the incoming structure and to its grasp of its role.

Also read: Meeting reveals crime challenges in Sector 3

He revealed that the disbanded forum was undermined by limited knowledge of what was expected of it.
Community leader Edwin Seleke welcomed the announcement as a relief. “There is so much that is happening crime-wise in the community that really needs the eyes and ears of the community,” he said.

Ngubane has previously acknowledged a trust deficit between residents and police that must be addressed. Seleke believes a functioning CPF will help close that gap. “With the CPF now being established, it will be much easier for people to report,” Seleke said. “When you have CPF you know that they will be patrolling our streets.” He added that crime levels would fall as a result.

Ngubane said community participation is important as residents routinely raise concerns about crime. He said the police cannot fight crime alone.

“We need the CPF to assist us to patrol,” Ngubane said. “Crime is out of hand, we need to have the CPF to assist us.”

Follow us on our WhatsApp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates!