Community a no-show at Brakpan CPF Combined Sectors meeting
These meetings serve as a vital platform for community members to engage directly with police and other key stakeholders in addressing crime.
There was no input from the community during last week’s Brakpan CPF Combined Sectors Meeting, as not one member of the public was in attendance.
The meeting, held at NG Kerk Moedergemeente recently, was steered by Sector 1 CPF chairperson Simon Mabuse in the presence of overall chairperson Tinus Jordaan and committee members from each sector.
“The main objective of the combined sectors meeting is to invite community members to meet their SAPS sector managers, CPF sector chairpersons, councillors and EMPD members, where they are also granted the opportunity to ask questions, raise queries and concerns, or offer suggestions,” explained Constable Audrey Buthelezi, Brakpan SAPS Sector 1 manager and communications officer.
The SAPS sector managers provided a crime overview of their areas as per current statistics. Problematic crimes in sectors 3 and 4 are car hijackings, stock theft at the plots, theft, drugs, domestic violence, and issues with some car guards at shopping centres.
Sector 3 is made up of Brenthurst, Vulcania, Maryvlei Industrial, Sallies Village, Mkhancwa Village, Sallies Hostel, Ergo Plant, Vulcania South and Western Platinum, while Sector 4 comprises Leachville Exts 1, 2 and 3, Flamingo Ridge, Dalpark Exts 1, 6, 9, 11 and 13, Helderwyk and the Carnival City area.
Sector 1 (Brakpan CBD, Brakpan West (dam), Anzac, Brakpan East – Power Street to Bedford Street, Voortrekker Road to Boundary Road – and Brakpan North) has a challenge with illegal gambling shops, non-compliant liquor outlets, and homeless people who relieve themselves anywhere.
Other issues discussed were the ill behaviour of some road users, including taxi drivers that skip robots and stop signs, speeding, and the impatience of road users, which leads to road rage incidents.
The SAPS noted and acknowledged all concerns, and gave the assurance that they will involve relevant stakeholders when dealing with certain issues, such as the Gauteng Gambling Board for the illegal gambling shops, the municipality and EMPD for by-laws with regards to the homeless, and road rules.
“Although it is deemed important to regularly engage with communities at meetings of these calibre, one can’t help but wonder about the disappointingly zero attendance of community members,” said Buthelezi.
“Meetings like these are for the community, and community members are strongly encouraged to support and attend them.
Divided we will fail and fall, but together we will triumph and stand.”
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