Strong results from joint crime-fighting initiative in KwaDukuza
An unprecedented joint effort by public and private security with police and the KwaDukuza Community Policing Forum has begun to yield positive results.
Working together to fight rising crime in KwaDukuza, a multi-disciplinary task team has made major inroads over the past month.
The crime threat had become a major issue by the beginning of August, with urgent intervention becoming increasingly necessary, said KwaDukuza Community Police Forum chairman, Salim Tootla.
“It had been bad for a while, but we noticed a sudden surge in July and had to do something to intervene. Muggings, house robberies, cable theft and intimidation within the CBD had all reached their worst point in years,” said Tootla.
“Unfortunately, Saps do not have enough resources to deploy as many officers as we would like.”
Thus began an unprecedented joint effort by public and private security stakeholders to work together to cover the gaps.
KwaDukuza Saps, KwaDukuza Crime Prevention, iLembe Crime Intelligence, KwaDukuza Community Police Forum and multiple private security companies joined forces.
“Everyone realises that it benefits all of us if crime is curbed. Our streets cannot be run by criminal elements,” said Tootla.
Together, the group has been able to respond faster to crimes in progress, while also undertaking sting operations on identified targets.
Over the past three weeks the group has seized large quantities of drugs, weapons and stolen goods, while also targeting two illegal scrapyards for cable theft recoveries.
“It is, of course, great to see successful operations from the Crime Prevention and Saps officers responsible for undertaking the stings operations and recoveries. We have all found common ground to help each other and it is clearly making a difference.”
Aside from the work done with recoveries and arrests, members of the group have also become more visible in the CBD as a preventative measure.
This has been particularly impactful at the Home Affairs office, where criminality is allegedly rampant.
“You could not get in the line without being harassed or extorted, it was terrible. With visible security and police presence, the criminal elements are slowly being shifted out.”
Tootla hopes the positive impact of joint operations will continue to bear fruit in KwaDukuza for some time.
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