Community leaders are questioning the practicalities around a KZN Community Safety and Liaison initiative to distribute “tools of the trade” to community crime fighting structures.

In response to noticeably escalating trends of violent crimes in the province, KZN premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube announced initiatives to give the Community Police Forum (CPF), Community in Blue (CIB) and neighbourhood watches more resources. These include branded cars, uniforms and torches, and are envisioned to help complement the work of the police.

The announcement was first made during Dube-Ncube’s 2024 State of the Province address on February 28.

The tools were expected to be handed over at a grandiose event at Hoy Park in Durban on April 5 that catered for 5 000 people.

Although an impressive fleet of branded cars were on display, only a handful of people received uniforms and torches.

Proceedings were laced with a strong undertone of electioneering with the premier and other speakers encouraging delegates to vote for the ANC on May 29.

According to a confidential document obtained by the Courier, the event cost the taxpayer R2,58-million, with R490 000 spent on outside broadcasts and live crossings with Ukhosi FM, Gagazi FM, Vuma FM, East Coast Radio and an unnamed community radio station.

According to the same document, community crime fighting structures in KwaDukuza are to receive a sedan and two bakkies, while Umhlali can expect a sedan and a bakkie and Durban North (including Umdloti) a sedan.

It all sounds very impressive, but the devil is in the details.

Tongaat CPF chairman, Nazir Shadak, raised concerns about maintenance costs being for the community crime fighting structures’ own account.

“It’s a good initiative but I don’t think it was given full thought in terms of all the constraints. What’s of concern is that these so-called ‘tools of the trade’, which are vehicles and stuff like that are being handed out but thereafter everything on that vehicle is for your own account. And as we know, CPF is not funded. CPF has got no money. Things like tyres, insurance… they give us R1 000 fuel but once you’re over R1 000 you’ve got to foot the bill. It’s things like that the CPF has got to fund for themselves,” Shadak said.

He is also concerned about vehicle insurance.

“Because you are going to have multiple drivers, the insurance is going to be sky high,” he said.

The document also stated that on March 16, prior to handover, one of the vehicles was damaged and was still with the panel beaters.

Dube-Ncube announced that those without drivers licenses would be sent to driving school. This raised questions about how many more vehicles would end up at the panel beaters and at whose expense.

Durban North CPF chairman, Haden Searls, shared similar concerns, saying the multi-million rand budget could have been better allocated to buying quality torches, hosting training for instance on how to use pepper spray,

the role of patrollers, how to make a citizen’s arrest and crime scene handling.

KwaDukuza CPF chairman, Dr Mfuleni Zungu, held a more optimistic view, saying the initiative was a move in the right direction.

Although he was not sure when goods would be received, he was confident it would be before the elections.

“The tools will help us be the eyes and ears on the ground we are meant to be. The cars will assist us with coordination and cooperation with the police. KDM has 30 wards and each ward must see these cars and know they’re available for any area where they’re needed,” said Zungu.

He conceded that the umbrellas provided were not really a useful crime fighting tool, unless if attending to a crime scene in the rain, but said the promised reflective jackets, safety boots and torches were critical. He also said winter jackets would be very helpful.

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