Alexandra police leadership and community representatives met to discuss a 22-point memorandum of demands aimed at restoring working relations and curbing crime.

Community representative Patricia Nzimande believes the engagement will bring noticeable change.

Residents raised concerns about stalled cases, corruption allegations, low police visibility, and long queues at the station.

Community leader Midlaas Dikobo said residents took these issues to the police to get a response and rebuild the fragile relationship between the police and the community.

Read more: Alexandra crime spike prompts SAPS response

“I have hope that from now onwards, police officers will be on the ground,” said Dikobo. “I believe that our concerns about crime, including robberies and allegations of not receiving help from the police, will be over.”

However, he agreed that successful efforts to address crime going forward will hinge on cooperation between the police and the wider community.

Police spent time in the meeting discussing how the community can help report essential information needed to tackle crime.

In the memorandum, the group raised concerns about drugs affecting children. Resident Ron Thobejane, who presented the memorandum, also cited night-time gunshots and the sale of illicit alcohol, including to minors.

Visible Policing Commander Colonel Jerry Phaswana said some community members know the perpetrators of these crimes but do not report them. He said it is important for residents to share information with the police.

Thobejane agreed that some residents know who sells drugs, but claimed they are reluctant to report this because some police officers are allegedly complicit in drug sales.

He added that drugs put children’s lives in jeopardy, as the majority of those who use them will likely not have a better future.

Resident Paul Selepe linked youth involvement in crime to substance use, including alcohol consumption, alleging that some criminal activities start in taverns.

Police said they are concerned about people as young as 18 being arrested. They said parents and leaders need to play a role in preventing youth from engaging in criminal activities and sharing information with the police.

Also read: Ziyakhala Movement unhappy with SAPS memorandum response

“There cannot be any effective policing without community participation,” said Phaswana.

Responding to corruption allegations, police said residents ought to open cases against officers who are accused of corruption. Station Commander Brigadier Vusimuzi Ngubane previously urged the community to report any police officer alleged to be corrupt, but none has come forward so far. He said he only knows of two corruption cases currently under investigation.

Police said they also want to root out corruption within the local police force.

Regarding the frequent gunshots at night, police said some residents do not report those who are responsible.

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