THE Mariannhill Police Station has promised police visibility in the community during the festive season. Speaking to the Highway Mail, station commander Colonel Muzi Twala said the police station is currently planning ways to keep the community safe during this upcoming festive season.

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Twala said the festive-season safety plan is the continuation of their work with the Community Policing Forum (CPF) whom they meet with at least once a month.

“We have developed sub forums in all areas where volunteers patrol streets and hotspot areas. We also have the Community in Blue programme – this programme was developed by the former National Police Commissioner, General Sithole. The Community in Blue is a structure that works under the CPF which fights crime. They are sent to hotspot areas, and they are available there and work as the communication link between the community, CPF and police.

“We have sectors, and we have placed sector managers, which are the police who serve as a link of communication between the community and police. These people also implement programmes that are intended to deal with specific problems,” he said.

Colonel Twala said they would like to assure the community that the festive-season safety plan is in action.

“I have sent a message on the ground that no person will be on leave from November onwards. We will be fully operational from Monday to Monday. The community will see more visibility in shopping centres and stokvel meetings. We will also be at liquor outlets enforcing bylaws – members of the public are not to drink and drive. On public roads, we will be doing roadblocks to ensure that people who are driving are legalised to do so and to ensure that vehicles are roadworthy. We will be doing all of this in conjunction with the metro police,” he said.

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Twala further highlighted that they are relying on the community to share information. “We are expecting the community to share information about the whereabouts of the criminals. We are expecting support from the community as they outnumber the police, so at all times, we are expecting the community to come forward with information that may help. We would also like to build trust with the community. Our doors are always open, and they are free to come forward with information that may help with our investigation in cases such as drugs, firearms and murder,” he said.

The Mariannhill station commander applauded the station for the strides they have made since his deployment in the station two years ago. He pointed out that the station was placed on the top 30 stations that were performing poorly, and they are out of that list. Though there is more room for improvement, Mbele said he is satisfied with the progress.

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