The Msukaligwa Community Safety Forum (CSF) was officially launched at the Ella de Bruin Hall last Thursday.
Representatives from various organisations which included the Ermelo Taxi Association, the Department of Social Development and police, were in attendance.
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The CSF will coordinate, integrate and implement multi-sectoral crime prevention and community safety programmes at local level.
They will facilitate the active participation of primary stakeholders and role players in the planning, implementation and monitoring of crime prevention initiatives.
Executive Mayor of Msukaligwa Municipality, Mr BJ Mkhaliphi, opened proceedings, saying it is the CSF’s mandate to ensure citizens of Msukaligwa feel safe in their homes and on the streets.
The purpose of the launch was to introduce the formal structure of the CSF which will be led by Ms Agnes Mnisi, MMC for Public Safety in the municipality.
The CSF will involve all three spheres of government as well as community-based organisations and formulations which will include the Department of Correctional Services, Department of Home Affairs, the police and the Community Policing Forum to name a few.
The municipality will remain responsible for the administrative function of the CSF.
Ms Duduzile Thwala, Director in the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison at the Provincial Office, made presentations on the establishment and action plan of the CSF.
She said that crime is because of a host of factors which includes inadequate access to basic services such as housing, education, health as well as unemployment.
Common challenges the CSF will face were mentioned, among others, the participation of stakeholders is often not consistent with some heads of departments sending junior officials, who cannot take decisions, to meetings.
“The reshuffling of MMCs tend to destabilise the smooth running of the CSF,” she said.
Ms Thwala recommended the municipality gives priority to all issues of community safety, includes them in their IDPs and sets aside a budget for their implementation.
An action plan was tabled with the different departments tasked with providing their focus areas as well as planned activities to prevent crimes happening in that area.
“The municipality can install or maintain streetlights for those walking at night.
“Maintenance of forestry so there are no bushy areas can go a long way in decreasing crime.”
The CSF will develop a Community Safety Plan and meetings will be held every second month.
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