Boschkop elects new CPF committee to tackle crime
The new chairperson the newly elected board has a proven track record when it comes to working with the police.
Boschkop in the east of Pretoria recently elected its new community policing forum (CPF) to work hand in glove with the police and community to eradicate crime.
The area has been plagued by violent crimes, vehicle tyre spiking, robberies at residential and non-residential properties and theft out of vehicles.
The latest crime stats released in February indicated that the Boschkop policing precinct had faced an increase in crimes such as common assault, common robbery, robbery with aggravating circumstances, commercial crime, robbery at residential premises and malicious damage.
The stats cover the differences in the number of crimes reported from October to December 2023, in comparison to the same period in 2022.
The Boschkop policing precinct registered a 48% increase in common assault-related crime, with 67 registered cases.
The station recorded 12 cases of common robbery, which is three counts higher than the same period in 2022.
It has nine counts more cases of robbery at residential premises with 11 registered cases.
The new CPF shared its strategies for fostering a safer and more cohesive community in collaboration with the police.
In the most recent attack, a motorist was stabbed to death, and three other passengers were robbed of their belongings after a spiking incident on the N4 near Donkerhoek on Sunday, March 31.
Newly elected chairperson for the CPF, Jean Jonker said their primary focus will be on enhancing community safety through proactive engagement with both residents and law enforcement.
“We aim to address key concerns such as crime prevention, response times, and overall service delivery by the police.
“The newly elected CPF is dedicated to working hand-in-hand with the police and the community to address safety concerns, strengthen partnerships, and foster a culture of collaboration and trust,” said Jonker.
He said the CPF aims to improve communication, and transparency and educate the community on the roles and responsibilities of the CPF.
According to Jonker, community engagement is very important.
“The forum will employ various methods to engage with the community, including public meetings, partnering with local community structures, and digital platforms to ensure consistent communication.
“We understand the importance of building trust through open communication, active listening, and responsiveness to community needs. Involving the community in taking ownership of their safety by for example visibility,” he said.
He said the newly elected board has a proven track record of working and communicating with the police.
“We will maintain regular meetings with the police representatives, facilitate feedback channels for community members, and advocate for the use of technology to enhance communication and reporting.
Jonker further said the forum will collaborate closely with SAPS to develop and implement targeted crime prevention strategies.
“These include promoting community policing initiatives, supporting neighbourhood watch programmes, and organising crime awareness campaigns to empower residents with knowledge and skills to protect themselves.”
He said through partnerships with police, the Tshwane metro police department, Tshwane metro, private security and local community groups, he believes they can build a strong foundation to curb crime.
“We will do so with a high level of discipline,” he added.
He explained that the forum recognises that effective community policing requires adequate resources and support.
“We will advocate for training opportunities for CPF members, access to relevant crime data, and partnerships with local businesses and organisations to bolster our efforts.
“In the end, we need to allow this dynamic group to serve the community with all the necessary skills and resources to improve safety and security in our community.”
He said while they are committed to their mission, they anticipate challenges such as resource constraints, resistance to change, and scepticism from certain community segments.
“However, we are confident that with dedication, collaboration, and resilience, we can overcome these obstacles and make meaningful strides towards a safer and more secure Boschkop precinct,” he continued.
“We will not only focus on securing the community but will have to create an environment where the community thrives in working together and celebrating what makes the Boschkop precinct a unique place to live and work.”
The newly elected CPF members are as follows:
Chairperson: Jean Jonker
Deputy Chairperson: Shandy Venter
Secretary: Benita Immelmann
Deputy secretary: Dries Reynecke
Treasurer: Alexi Yannoulatos
Public relations officer: Alto Hoffman
Youth desk: Kagisho Rgalema
Patroller: Mankwana Mogale
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
