Community urges improved police support and municipal services in Kempton Park
At a CPF meeting hosted at Laerskool Birchleigh, residents shared frustrations about unresolved cases, power outages, water-billing errors, and SAPS resources, seeking action and accountability.
The Norkem CPF Sector 1 hosted a community meeting at Laerskool Birchleigh with the Norkem Park SAPS and Ward 15 Clr Amanda Davison on November 15.
Residents attended the meeting to seek answers to ongoing issues in Kempton Park.
The purpose of the forum is to build and maintain trust between the community, the CPF, the SAPS and local councillors.
Community member Patricia Kepiyane said she had lost trust in the police.
“I had an incident in April when my ex-partner jumped the fence onto my patio. The SAPS stated that they did not handle such cases when I attempted to open a trespassing case.
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“A few months later, my car was stolen. It was Willem from the CPF who helped me. We need the SAPS to show empathy and support. Even though the CPF is helping, we still need the police,” she said.
Photo by: Masego Mashilo
The meeting addressed several topics, including updates on safety initiatives, collaboration between residents and stakeholders, crime-prevention strategies, patrol co-ordination and feedback on service delivery.
The electricity supply was a serious concern for residents, who said they often went days without power and urged the municipality to address the ongoing power issues, citing delays and poor communication.
Community member Sandra Engel raised concerns about SAPS resources. She asked if the shortage of officers previously mentioned by Warrant Officer Johannes Fourie had been addressed, and whether SAPS vehicles were roadworthy and up to date with licence discs.
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Warrant Officer Fourie responded that the station had received a few student recruits and would receive two constables, who are currently in training.
He added that while some vehicles were old, they were roadworthy. There is a budget allocated for repairs.
He encouraged residents to continue opening cases, noting that some remained unresolved due to a lack of leads.
Residents requested regular updates from the SAPS on case progress, even when no new developments occurred.
Water-billing issues were also raised. One resident received a bill of R50 000 due to a faulty water meter and reported receiving no communication from the municipality regarding the error.
Ward Clr Amanda Davison offered to assist, requesting the resident’s details to help resolve the matter.
She also addressed broader service-delivery concerns, including the ongoing issue with the Elgin Bridge. She said funds were allocated to improve signage, adding that attempts are underway to include the bridge in GPS navigation systems for safety.
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She acknowledged that councillors, as Kempton Park residents, share the community’s struggles with water, electricity and other services.
“Electricity is the main issue we are facing in Kempton Park. We escalate matters to the energy department and to the mayor, but it remains a challenge,” she said.
