New CPF committee elected

Community Policing Forum members have expressed their concern about the Umhlali Police station, complaining about the empty chair of station commander.

At the annual general meeting of the forum (made up of 9 sub forums) at the Umhlali court on Thursday night, the chairperson of the CPF in Driefontein and outgoing chairperson Sbusiso Ndlela, said that reporting to two acting station commanders was confusing.

Last year Umhlali SAPS station commander Brigadier Bheki Zondi was made acting station commander in KwaDukuza, following the promotion of KwaDukuza station commander, Brigadier Bongiwe Sithole, to Pinetown. Lieutenant Col Dieter Fittkau and Col Jacqui Papayya had been sharing the role of acting station commander at Umhlali since then.

Representing the department of community safety and liaison, Sam Zwane, promised that the matter would be resolved soon.

“The station commander has been appointed and will be announced shortly. Thank you for your hard work. We know how difficult it has been,” said Zwane.

The new executive committee of the Umhlali cluster CPF is: Bongumusa Mkhize (chairperson), Sdudla Ndlovu (deputy chair), Sne Ndlovu (secretary), Mabongi Mdluli (deputy secretary), Sbusiso Ndlela (treasurer) Thandazo Ncama (public relations). Three additional members are Bhekumuzi Xulu, Hloniphani Mtshali and Hlengiwe Ngwane.

Mkhize said the CPF needed to have a plan on how they are going to strike against crime. He used the arrest of Desperado and the man accused of raping a five-year-old girl in Etete as an example of hard work by the CPF in Etete.

He also proposed the installation of a suggestions box at the police station that would only be opened by the CPF.

“This will help us to know what are the community’s concerns about the police station and we will make sure that those matters are resolved,” said Mkhize.

Unity and community safety were emphasised to be the first priorities of the CPF.