Elsburg Station CPF chairperson Thulane Potsane has highlighted the important role played by the structure in supporting communities and holding the police accountable.

As station chairperson, Potsane oversees the CPF’s sector branches and works to ensure that they function effectively.

He also serves as a link between communities and the SAPS, raising concerns with the station commander and senior management.

“What I do is oversee that the sector branches function properly, while also holding the station commander accountable, as well as other seniors,” said Potsane, while also raising concerns about the lack of resources available to CPF members.

Potsane described himself as the voice of the communities served by Elsburg SAPS, with sector chairpersons bringing concerns from their respective communities to him.

ALSO READ: Elsburg among Ekurhuleni hotspots targeted in drug busts

“I am like a mouthpiece of the people, saying that these communities are deprived of Y and Z,” he said.

“That’s why we also need to educate all our chairpersons to understand that they are the mouthpieces of the communities they serve. They bring their challenges to me, and I take them to the station commander and station management.

“If I am not satisfied with what I get at station level, then my duty is to communicate my grievances to the district.”

He said CPF members’ responsibilities extend beyond what is normally expected of volunteers, and believes government needs to reconsider how CPF structures are supported.

Potsane said the CPF plays an important role in ensuring transparency and coordination between the police and communities, particularly through forums where crime patterns and policing challenges are discussed.

“When we look at the six pillars, they talk about transparency and coordination between the police and the community,” he said.

ALSO READ: Elsburg SAPS welcomes convictions for infrastructure crimes

“But when you sit in the Station Crime Combating Forum (SCCF) meeting and analyse the crime patterns reported at the station, you realise that there are many crimes troubling communities but not reported or members of the community are not registering cases.

“I then say to SAPS, how do we allocate resources to those crimes affecting the community, even though they are not reported? I then also have to bear witness to the operations done to combat these crimes.”

Potsane said the CPF also has a responsibility to escalate challenges when the station does not have sufficient resources to address them.

“Should we not reach our target, I must also write a report to the district to say that, as a station, we are failing in this section and need resources to deal with it,” he said.

“For example, we are short of vehicles as a station. My report would accompany the station commander’s report to the district requesting more vehicles.”

Collaboration behind Elsburg’s performance

Elsburg SAPS was recently recognised as one of the best-performing police stations in the province and ranked third nationally.

ALSO READ: Elsburg SAPS recognises crime-fighting efforts

Potsane attributed the station’s performance to leadership, collaboration and hard work, highlighting the importance of partnerships between the police, CPF, security companies, businesses community and residents.

“For a station to pull off such an achievement means we are doing something right,” he said.

“When we meet on a quarterly basis, we look at everything that has been done and what has not been done. We go as far as educating the community.

“Looking at marches and protests, we go and educate people about their rights and how to march within the law and the legal framework. Especially now during the March and March protests.”

The Elsburg station has three sectors covering 14 communities, divided into sectors one, two and three.

Sector One includes Wadeville, Tedstoneville, Cruywagen Park and Lambton, while Sector Two includes Elspark, Egoli and Graceland. Sector Three includes Rondebult, Buhle Park and other surrounding communities.

Each sector has its own structures and committees, with sub-sector committees operating within the various communities.

Potsane said sector chairpersons work closely with him to identify problems affecting their communities and coordinate responses where necessary.

“They patrol and do their own ground operations. If something falls outside their scope or extra resources are needed, they request assistance from the station,” he said.

“For example, they may say they need immigration officials or people to check tuck shops, or they may need health and safety inspectors.”

ALSO READ: Raw sewage overflow sparks outrage at Elsburg Cemetery

CPF struggles with resources

Despite the CPF’s role in supporting policing and community safety, Potsane said the structure continues to face serious resource constraints.

He said individual sectors are often forced to fundraise to obtain basic equipment such as uniforms, torches and other resources.

“The fundraising efforts must be an addition to these structures,” he said.

“The CPF has no resources. We haven’t had uniforms in the last two years as a station.

“The last time we had about 16 jackets for 124 patrollers as a station.”

Potsane said the CPF submitted a memorandum to the Office of the Premier in May outlining its grievances, but had not received a response.

He said the matter was subsequently taken to the Office of the Public Protector, which was asked to investigate funding allocated to CPF structures.

Potsane said the lack of resources affects the CPF’s ability to carry out basic community awareness programmes and respond effectively to incidents.

ALSO READ: Delville residents urged to stop illegal dumping on Elsburg Road

He said the CPF had also sought clarity on funding announced for the structures in 2013.
Potsane said the matter was now before the Public Protector.

“There needs to be transparency from government about the funds of the CPF. We requested the Public Protector to probe the Gauteng Community Provincial Police Board, the Department of Community Safety and service providers.”

Potsane’s journey into CPF leadership

Potsane’s journey into CPF leadership began with his involvement in community development.

He initially worked as a community innovator and was associated with non-profit organisations such as Afrikon Innovation Hub, which focuses on educating underprivileged communities about computer literacy and IT related programmes.

His involvement with the CPF began after he was challenged to join the structure during a public meeting in Rondebult.

ALSO READ: Elsburg sinkhole worsens road conditions amid delays in repairs

“When I joined, I was made an executive at a sub-sector level. I left shortly after joining the executive, and I was requested to come back,” he said.

“When I did, I came back as a deputy chairperson. During that stint, the chairperson resigned. I was then nominated as the chairperson and later elected to be the station chairperson.

“As a sector chairperson, I served for three years. Then I was requested to be the station chairperson. I was elected in my absence in January 2024.

“I was asked if, should I be elected, I would stand. I said yes. I sent in my apologies for the meeting and later I was informed of my nomination, which I accepted.”

Potsane believes that the CPF is not simply a voluntary community structure but an important part of the broader policing system, one that requires adequate support if it is expected to help police effectively serve the community.