Joint press release by the Heidelberg Station Commander and the Heidelberg CPF Chairperson.
A Truly Volunteer Service to the Community of Heidelberg.
The SAPS in Heidelberg is in a partnership with the Heidelberg CPF in terms of Act 68 OF 1995: SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE ACT, 1995 CHAPTER 7
COMMUNITY POLICE FORUMS AND BOARDS Sections 18-23.18
(1) The Service shall, in order to achieve the objects contemplated in
Sections 215, 221 of the Constitution, liaise with the community through community
police forums and area and provincial community police boards, in accordance
with sections 19, 20 and 21, with a view to-
(a) establishing and maintaining a partnership between the community and
the Service;
(b) promoting communication between the Service and the community;
(c) promoting co-operation between the Service and the community in
fulfilling the needs of the community regarding policing;
(d) improving the rendering of police services to the community at
national, provincial, area and local levels;
(e) improving transparency in the Service and accountability of the Service
to the community; and
(f) promoting joint problem identification and problem-solving by the
Service and the community.
We are proud to report that over time we have established just that, as per the prescriptions of the Act. The partnership is a difficult one, but a healthy one. On a daily basis we are engaging with each other on different levels in terms of mutually agreed procedures and processes to execute this mandate and to promote the objects of a CPF within the philosophy of Community Policing.
We are also proud to report that we scored 97% in terms of our latest assessment by the Gauteng Department of Community Safety with regards to the functionality and compliance of the partnership. Heidelberg CPF was also recognised by the Ekurhuleni East Cluster as the best performing CPF in the Cluster. Heidelberg CPF is also regarded as one of the best performing CPF’s in Gauteng.
In terms of 18 (1) (b-d) and with specific reference to 18 (1) (f) of the Act, a patroller network has been established in all areas to assist the SAPS in terms of visibility and being the eyes and ears of the Police. This whole network is managed by a 24 hour Control Room (HA2) with the assistance of Volunteers that includes our Security Companies and a Radio network with 500 registered Radio users on a dedicated ICASA approved frequency. There is a network of about 130 active patrollers representing all areas that do regular patrols in all areas. All this is done by Volunteers with no charge or cost to the people of Heidelberg.
In 2017 this network has done 5,513 hours of patrols representing 3,088 Patrols by a network of 130 Patrollers. Till the end of June 2018, the network has done 2,140 hours of patrols representing 1,358 patrols – without even mentioning the time and effort members of the CPF spend on a daily basis in our support structures with meetings with the Community, SAPS and other role players. This also includes other actions to keep the network functional on a 24/7/365 basis.
Meetings with the SAPS take place on a 2 weekly basis to consider the crime incidents, crime tendencies, hot spots and crime generators. It serves the purpose of directing the network to concentrate on the current threats.
Although not contemplated in the Act, this network has also assisted at Accidents (traffic and other), Medical Emergencies to safeguard Medics on the scene, Traffic control, Trauma assistance, Fire Fighting. During Disasters the network has played a major Role to assist people in need.
We are extremely proud of what has been established and the growth of the partnership since the Heidelberg CPF has been established in 1993 (25 Years) through thousands of hours of selfless service to the Community.
Col Amanda Viljoen: Heidelberg SAPS Station Commander
Flip Minnaar: Heidelberg CPF Chairman
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