Noordwyk patrol commander celebrates 27 years with Sector 3 Crime Forum

For 27 years, Otto Ramokoka has been on a quest to fight rising crime in his area of Noordwyk in Midrand.

He has called Noordwyk home since December 1993.

The Sector 3 Crime Forum patrol commander says law enforcement agencies, including police, businesses, community, patrollers and private security service providers work together.

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Ramokoka, a father of two girls, and grandfather, believes great strides have been made in reducing crime. “Johannesburg Metro Police Department, Department of Justice and also Department of Home Affairs all have a role to play in the bid to fight crime. Housebreaking has been reduced, mugging in some hotspots are also reduced and many rape cases as well. So I think Sector 3 Crime Forum is doing well in combating crime, although we have some challenges of crime there and there,” said Ramokoka.

He also shared with the paper some of his day-to-day duties as a patrol commander of the crime forum. It is not limited to planning patrols together with the sector manager from Midrand Police and interacting with residents who want to join the patrollers’ team.

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“I update the community with a patrol report after each patrol session. Patrolling, visibility, stop and search at vehicle control points with other stakeholders. I also respond with police, and security services where there is an incident of criminality reported, as well as responding to vehicle accidents to help with controlling traffic.”

Ramokoka was once a sports fanatic and in his days he used to play soccer, run marathons and martial arts. Asked what he was also passionate about if not fighting crime, he said going to church and listening to jazz music.

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