An official with the Madadeni SAPS admitted businesses in the area were being engulfed in crime.
Owing to an increase in the number of burglaries at shops and stores in the township, a small group of residents has undertaken to revive the Business Against Crime (BAC) initiative.
This time around, however, the Madadeni BAC intends to ensure the organisation is built to last.
Explaining the purpose of the newly-formed group at an inaugural meeting on February 5, chairperson, Jabu Sithole said its aim was to ultimately reduce crime and make businesses less of a target.
“We are not trying to enrich ourselves by joining,” she added.
Urging her fellow business-people to work closely with the SAPS, Mrs Sithole said Wednesday’s meeting was the first time the recently elected executive committee had met formally.
Thus, BAC members elected to propose strategies and also discuss the formation of a constitution.
Warrant-Officer JJ Zondo, the Madadeni BAC secretary, put forward a suggestion to draft the constitution anew, while remaining in line with that of the Community Policing Forum (CPF).
Members wholeheartedly approved his advice.
“They did not create a constitution in the previous BAC and it was a failure. We want to be bound to doing the right thing.”
The BAC exco then discussed the previous meeting’s minutes, where the relevance of both CPF and BAC forums was initially explored.
According to Captain Thami Mtshali of the Madadeni Vispol Unit (Visible Policing), it created a bridge between people.
“There must be a sharing of responsibilities among stakeholders, and the community and the SAPS must work together.”
However, exco member, David Yan cautioned the BAC should be less for talking, and more for action.
Chairman of the Chinese Textile and Clothing Association, Mr Yan said the spree of crimes against Chinese businesses was placing overseas investment and the job security of about 3 000 workers at risk.
Creating an economic ‘bloom’, he continued, might become a turning point in the fight against crime.
Mentioning the reliance of Chinese businesses on the SAPS and security guards, Mr Yan said being unable to get in contact with the SAPS in emergencies was worrisome.
“We need solutions and overall statistics.”
Dates of the next meeting of the BAC and other forums will be made available at a later stage.
