Where is the community now?

The Community Policing Forum (CPF) met with business owners from sector one, and the South African Police Services (SAPS) on Tuesday April 22, to discuss the issues faced by business people in the sector.

Unfortunately, the turn-out of community members to the event was extremely poor, and forced the CPF to postpone the election of the committee members to a further date.

Acting station commander for the SAPS Newcastle, Colonel Richard Khawula made a plea to the community to join the initiative created by the CPF.

“We are not going to win the war against crime without the help of the community,” said Col. Khawula.

He was dismayed by the turn-out of business people to the event, explaining that the structures created by bodies such as the CPF is what the SAPS needed to help fight crime, and improve the community.

Chairman of the CPF, Rajesh Ramdaw, concurred, saying it was hard to deal with the issues of the community, if no one attended meetings.

“We need to hear the needs of the people, not just in the media, but here at our meetings, so that we can create resolutions to help the community together,” said Mr Ramdaw.

He went on to say that there was a major concern from the community that nothing was being done, but wished to re-assure the community that the CPF were working well with SAPS to help stop crime.

Mr Ramdaw added that crime statistics had dropped in recent months, and this was an indicator of how working together had positively influenced the community.

“There are many issues we still need to deal with, but we can’t do this on our own. We need the community to attend the meetings and make their voices heard,” pleaded Mr Ramdaw.

An interim committee was been elected until May 20. The CPF will meet again at the Newcastle SAPS boardroom at 6pm on this date, in the hope that more business people will attend.

Sector one calls on businesses and residents from the central business district, light industries, central residential areas, and from the malls to attend the forthcoming meeting.

For more information, community members can contact Rajesh Ramdaw on 082 321 150, or the sector commander, Captain Nene on 079 500 1138.