Westville SAPS station commander says police visibility is key
The police say their mandate is to serve the local community, to ensure people feel safe, and ensure residents regain trust in the police.
THE station commander of the Westville SAPS, Colonel Sharon Zamantungwa Sihlangu, stated that visibility was one of the aims of the roadblock operation on Friday, August 15, so that community members feel safe and regain trust in the local police.
Sihlangu was speaking during a parade at the Westville Junction Shopping Centre ahead of the roadblock, which was joined by the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) – Westville, members of the community policing forum (CPF), and private security companies, including Inkosi Security, Jag Security, Mobi 911, women-owned Continental Arms and Tactical, and First Responder KZN.
The operation, which was women-led, was also a commemoration of the women of 1956 whose protest march of that year culminated in their celebration and honour on Women’s Day, August 9 and during the entire month, said Sihlangu.
The station commander said unity among the stakeholders who conducted the operation was also crucial to ensuring communities remain safe.
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“Our mandate is to serve our community. We want them to feel safe, and we want to regain their trust; we also want to demonstrate to our community that we are one family,” said Sihlangu.
Vehicles were stopped and searched for illegal items such as firearms and drugs, as well as property suspected to be stolen; however, nothing was found on the day, and no arrests were made.
The head of security at the shopping centre, Eugene Pillay from Nogada Security, said it is hoped such operations will continue because security, especially that of the centre’s patrons and staff, as well as that of neighbouring communities, is important.
Pillay said in recent years, the centre has not been a site of any serious criminal activities.
“Thus far in the last couple of years, we have been lucky, but it also means there are certain things that we get right in terms of security,” he said.
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