Community demands patrollers for crime hotspots

The CCPF has discussed the deployment of patrollers on numerous occasions but to date, they have not been placed.

Mr Thulani Mngomezulu, a member of the community said, “Crime is increasing. We keep hearing about the patrollers but they have not been deployed.”

Mr Godfrey Mothibe, the chairperson of the CCPF, said he realises the urgency for patroller deployment.

“There is so much pressure from criminals. People are being terrorised. We need ‘foot soldiers’. We sent 61 people for fingerprinting. Only 32 people were inducted and are ready to be deployed. Although we have patrollers, we did not obtain support from the Department of Community Safety. They have the budget for uniforms and torches, which are needed, but nothing has been done yet,” said Mr Mothibe.

Mr Mngomezulu said, “We want the CCPF to push the Department of Community Safety to provide the uniforms and equipment the patrollers need. They came to these meetings and said they would help us, however they have done nothing.”

Mr Thabo Thipe, from the department, said they are currently trying to procure uniforms for patrollers across Gauteng.

“In the Cleveland SAPS’s case, we are still recruiting patrollers. Some of the fingerprints we obtained were not clear. Some have already been inducted. These patrollers can be deployed in the meantime. I will check if we can acquire reflector jackets for them,” he said.

The aim of the CCPF and department is to deploy the patrollers to all crime hotspots.

“Sector managers can inform us on where the problem areas are. The police will work with the patrollers. They will be visited to make sure they are doing their jobs and are not in danger of being attacked. They will not have powers to conduct stop and search operations or do what police officers are mandated to do. The patrollers will attend a peace officer course,” said Mr Thipe.

He added that the Department of Education will also deploy some patrollers to some of the schools.

“There are about 8 000 patrollers in the province, 300 of which are in the Hillbrow Cluster, which the Cleveland SAPS falls under. It is also a voluntary job. We also have a festive season deployment plan. In this case, the patrollers who are deployed will be provided with a stipend. In some areas, businesses have come on board and started paying the patrollers. Some communities are doing the same. We encourage people and businesses that can to donate to do so,” said Mr Thipe.

He urged people, especially those who are unemployed, to join patroller programmes.

“There are several of them who started patrolling and obtained paying jobs later on. Our aim is to give skills to people while they are patrollers. Some businesses have seen the great work done by patrollers and employed them,” he said.