Local CPFs receive equipment boost from Silverstar
The primary aim of CPFs is to achieve more effective crime control, however their roles have developed over the years.
The hard-working Community Policing Forums (CPFs) of Sectors 4 and 5 and a number of waste-pickers have received donations valued at a total of R550 000 from Silverstar to assist them in their good work of crime control and recycling.
On 1 June, Silverstar handed over a fire-fighting three-wheeler equipped with a water tank and pump, and other fire and emergency equipment to CPF Sectors 4 and 5, as well as 200 140-litre yellow wheelie bins for improved recycling to Sector 4.
Anneke Potgieter, Operations Director and Complex GM for Silverstar said, “Our CPFs are solely run by volunteers from the community, consistently delivering an excellent 24/7 service – as capable first responders in incidents of crime, road accidents, fire, first aid emergencies, and others, and as the eyes and ears of the police in our areas. Supporting these brave and committed organisations and individuals will contribute towards a safer and better environment for all residents.”
CPF Sectors 4 and 5 responded to a total of 1 700 incidents from April 2018 to April 2019. The overall primary aim of CPFs is to achieve more effective crime control, however their roles have developed over the years.
Sharday van den Berg, Sector 4 Public Relations Officer said, “Patrollers are given training by local police, fire and traffic emergency services, and Netcare 911, and includes scene management, fire-fighting, and disaster management, and first aid responders train with QRS Ambulance Services.”
Silverstar’s donation included Sector 4’s fire-fighting three-wheeler, as well as other clothing and equipment for both sectors – jackets, shirts, cones, flares, hard hats, goggles, tools, spades, torches, fire extinguishers and fire-fighting items.
Sharday said, “Our priorities are to keep our office operational, and to ensure that our volunteers are equipped to offer assistance as and when needed. Our thanks go to Silverstar for this donation – the CPF is an NPO and without sponsors such as Silverstar we would not be able to be as effective as we are.”
Silverstar also handed over 200 wheelie bins for recycling waste from households in the community, as part of the Dignity for Diggers Recycle Project, a partnership between Silverstar and the Community Policing Forums.
The project was designed to raise awareness of the importance of recycling and provide assistance to the waste-pickers to make their jobs a bit easier.
According to industry data, waste-pickers collect as much as 80 per cent of post-consumer packaging and paper waste, bringing South Africa’s recycling rate up to and above that of many European countries, and saving municipalities millions of rand annually in landfill costs.
