THE Umbilo Community Police Forum held its first monthly meeting on Thursday, which was poorly attended.
Despite the poor turnout, Thabo Kadikadi, chairperson of the new executive committee of the CPF, said the future was looking bright, with the election of a youth desk, which would be assisting the CPF and police in fighting crime in the area.
Kadikadi said over the past 100 days, the CPF had been hard at work, formulating a plan to move forward this year.
“We held a workshop recently where we adopted a programme of issues to deal with in 2016/17, such as drugs, prostitution, carjacking, vagrancy, muggings and robberies. We have met with Col Mkhize, station commander at Umbilo SAPS, and have had a good response. Our primary concern is the increase in terms of these crimes,” he said.
He said burglaries were on the rise in the area and that carjacking was a major concern.
“The youth desk will also be addressing issues dealing with the youth in the community who are either victims or perpetrators of crime. We need creative ideas and thinking out of the box. We have been meeting as an executive every month and it has been very promising. Our executive are willing and are contributing well. We are busy fundraising and are in the process of identifying stakeholders such as security companies to partner with us as well,” he said.
He said there was ongoing work and with a lot of support, the CPF was going in the right direction.
Col Mkhize addressed the residents and said crime won't be beaten if the community don't work with the police.
“Crime is a common enemy and the only way to solve this is to partner with the CPF and SAPS. The community needs to work with us, and get to know their neighbours,” he said.
He said crime had increased over the past 12 months, with an increase in murders, assault, theft of and out of motor vehicles as well as carjacking.
“There are no hot spots, these are happening all over and we need a new strategy for the new year to combat and prevent crime. I urge the public to work with and not against the police. I have an open door policy and encourage meetings with sector managers monthly in the area,” he said.
Pearl Mageza, public relations officer for the CPF, announced there will be an anti-hijacking presentation with Johann von Bargen in April, which she urged the community to attend.
“As a CPF we refuse to live in fear. Ignorance is failure, and I encourage neighbours to attend, get together and share information,” she said.
