Norkem Park CPF puts community safety under the spotlight

Community members gathered at Hoërskool Jeugland on August 29 for a community safety meeting organised and led by the Norkem Park CPF Sector 1.

The main purpose of the meeting was to bring the community and various safety role players together to discuss local issues.

Norkem Park CPF Sector 1 wanted residents from Birchleigh, Edleen and Van Riebeeck Park to hear local safety updates and raise their challenges directly.

“As a CPF, we see every day that safety cannot only be the responsibility of SAPS, EMPD, CPF patrollers or security companies,” said Norkem Park CPF Sector 1 chairperson Willem du Plessis.

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“We need the community to be involved as well. That was one of the biggest reasons for holding the meeting: to improve communication, strengthen relationships and encourage residents to become more involved in keeping our neighbourhoods safe.”

According to Du Plessis, Norkem Park CPF Sector 1 invited safety stakeholders, including SAPS, CPF patrollers, local councillors, EMPD, private security companies and community safety organisations.

Norkem Park SAPS station commander Colonel Nelly Maunatlala was formally invited, and her presence gave the community a better sense of SAPS involvement.

Du Plessis shared that the aim of Norkem Park CPF Sector 1 is to bring together relevant role players, as community safety works better when everyone communicates.

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The meeting was attended by CPF representatives, Maunatlala, a station captain, SAPS sector managers, ward councillors, security companies and approximately 15 residents. Not all invited stakeholders and officials were able to attend.

“Naturally, we would like to see stronger representation from all the different organisations at future meetings, but also don’t want to make the meeting about who wasn’t there,” Du Plessis added.

“For us, the bigger concern is getting more people, particularly residents, involved.

“We represent communities with thousands of residents, so having only 15 community members attending shows that we still have a lot of work to do in encouraging participation.”

Discussions centred around communication, community-reported crime, crime prevention and how residents should report incidents. The CPF stressed that posting on a WhatsApp group is not the same as formally reporting a crime.

WhatsApp and community groups are extremely useful for awareness and quick communication, but where a criminal offence has taken place, residents still need to report it through the proper channels.
Residents raised concerns about reporting crime, municipal by-laws, crime prevention, response times, communication, patrol visibility and cooperation between organisations.

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Residents were encouraged not to wait for a meeting to raise concerns. If there is a problem, the CPF needs to know so it can be followed up.

“One of the commitments from our side is that the concerns raised must not simply disappear after the meeting. The CPF will continue to engage with SAPS, EMPD, councillors, local authorities, private security companies, and other relevant stakeholders, where issues need follow-up, to continue building relationships.

“Our patrollers will also continue with visible patrols and assisting the community where possible, within the role and mandate of the CPF.

“We also want to keep improving communication between residents, patrollers and the different response organisations. But there is shared responsibility as well. The CPF can follow up and coordinate, but residents need to continue reporting incidents and giving us information,” Du Plessis added.

For the CPF, cooperation among the CPF, SAPS, EMPD, local authorities, neighbourhood watches, and residents is vital, as no single organisation can do everything. SAPS has its role; EMPD and the municipality have their responsibilities; the CPF connects the community with these organisations; security companies have their role; CPF volunteer patrollers are in the community; and residents are the eyes and ears in their own streets.

When everyone works separately, gaps appear, but working together creates a stronger safety network. Because criminals do not respect boundaries, safety structures must collaborate.

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Resident Sharmaine Mari said it is becoming scary to walk the roads, noting that schoolchildren have had their phones stolen and that people fear going to shops.

Mari added that she was glad four SAPS members attended, including the station commander, but expressed disappointment that EMPD was absent.

She noted SAPS answered questions to the best of their ability, explaining that a lack of funds ties their hands.

The CPF’s next step is to follow up on matters raised, continue patrols, build relationships and get more residents involved. The CPF expressed gratitude to the residents who attended.

Ward Councillor Tracey Lourenco shared that it was mentioned in the meeting that Kempton Park is ranked number one in the country for kidnapping, calling the trend concerning.

Lourenco raised the issue of public drinking and stated a meeting will be called with SAPS, EMPD, the CPF and councillors to address it.

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She noted SAPS highlighted that street lights and long grass affect crime, adding that councillors will pressure departments to improve service delivery.

At the same time, the CPF needs many more residents to realise that community safety is everyone’s responsibility. You don’t have to become a patroller to make a difference.

The CPF urges residents to attend meetings, report suspicious activity, get to know their neighbours, join community structures, share accurate information, and support the volunteers who give their time to protect the community.

“The disappointment was real, seeing how few residents took the time to attend the CPF public meeting,” said Ward Councillor Amanda Davison.

“A sincere thank you to SAPS, ward councillors, CPF patrollers and the residents who made the effort to attend and participate. These public meetings provide residents with an important opportunity to raise concerns, ask questions and engage directly with SAPS, the CPF and ward councillors.

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“How can we assist you if you don’t attend the meetings and make your concerns known? Your safety is a shared responsibility. Please make the effort to attend future meetings, get involved and have your voice heard. Your participation matters.”

According to the CPF, they cannot replace SAPS or protect every street by themselves, but what they can do is bring people together.

The stronger the community’s involvement, the stronger the community’s ability to make Birchleigh, Edleen and Van Riebeeck Park safer places for everyone.