Marikana informal settlement motivates Rabie Ridge community patrollers
Community of Marikana informal settlement take action against crime.
The newly established Marikana Informal Settlement has motivated Rabie Ridge community patrollers.
Rabie Ridge SAPS Captain Mofana Masela said that on April 13 the Department of Community Safety gave them their support by holding an induction for community patrollers.
“Marikana Informal Settlement is a boundary area that separates Entshonalanga, Umthabeka and Kanana Section in Rabie Ridge.
There were several criminal incidents in the area that nearly turned it into a no-go area due to a hot spot called ‘tollgate’.
This is where criminals used to wait and rob victims by forcing them to donate their transport fare for a safe pass,” said Captain Masela.
Masela said the community has partnered with sector manager constable Eddie Ngwako Selotola, who has mobilised local communities to create a sector crime forum.
He said some community members even handed an illegal firearm to the sector manager for the safety of the community and then joined the community patrollers.
“The Community Policing Forum’s chairperson, Monica van Rooyen, is anxious to rebuild the CPF to be a force that will work with the police and wants to include all stakeholders as well as churches for a divine intervention. This is a strategic approach that encourages ubuntu initiatives of dealing with offenders and protecting victims. This is in line with SAPS’ strategies.
Phomolong, Klipfonteinview, Kanana and Mayibuye Section followed suit in mobilizing more patrollers,” Captain Masela explained. He said hot spots like Marikana and ‘tollgate’ are a thing of the past with this community mobilization approach.
