Zonkizizwe Community Policing Forum elects first woman as a chairperson
Zonkizizwe SAPS commander Lt Col Munaf Ismail has welcomed the newly-elected Community Policing Forum (CPF) executive committee during the imbizo (meeting) held at the Zonkizizwe Community Hall on August 7.
The purpose of the imbizo was to introduce the CPF committee, along with other station crime fighting structures such as Youth Crime Prevention Desk, Patrollers, Victim Empowerment Centre (VEC) and Men as Safety Promoters (MASP).
Other stakeholders in attendance were Department of Community Safety represented by Mr Kehla Nkambule, Breakthrough Centre, Izinduna, Induku‘enhle Bible Study, Community Development Workers and the office of the ward councillor.
After the committee was introduced to and welcomed by the community, Ismail appealed for the support of the CPF and other crime fighting agencies.
He then declared war against criminals saying criminals make five per cent of the community while the 95 per cent consists of peaceful people.
“We cannot allow to be overpowered by the five per cent. Let us work together and eradicate criminals permanently from our community,” he said to the audience.
The community promised to work hand-in-hand with the police in order to fight and win against crime.
Mabel Mokoena, the newly-appointed CPF chairperson, said as the first woman to be selected in this role, since the inception of the police station, she is willing to make a difference in the community.
“I want to prove that women can lead and that what men can do women can do even better,” she said.
She also pleaded with the community to be patient, respect how the law works and not take the law into their own hands.
“Some people do not understand that they can’t take the law into their own hands when they see a suspect roaming around the streets freely. It is not up to the police to release the suspects but the magistrate. But I promise that we as the newly-elected CPF members will do everything in our power to make sure that suspects stay behind bars,” said Mokoena.
Ismail also welcomed Lerato Mthombothi, the newly-appointed chairperson of Zonkizizwe Youth Crime Prevention Desk.
Mthombothi also promised to work hard in educating the youth of Zonkizizwe about crime.
“I will be doing crime prevention campaigns such as school talks and educate learners about drugs. We will also visit different crèches to teach children about crimes that affect them since our job is to focus more on the youth and children,” Mthombothi said.
