Pretoria West residents pledge to work with police

Residents in the west of Pretoria want to play a bigger role in fighting crime in the area.

This was revealed during a community meeting with the Pretoria West SAPS recently.

Members of the Department of Community Safety and local CPF were also in attendance at the meeting that took place on July 6 in Ward 3, Proclamation Hill.

Among the resolutions the stakeholders passed included the future formation of a crime forum whose sole mandate is to address crime within Pretoria West.

The residents also read out a petition to the station commander Colonel Magaret Nkwane, regarding their crime concerns and community challenges including robberies and hijackings.

Nkwane was pleased with the community’s willingness to tackle crime saying, “I like the fact that the community is ready to partner with police in reducing the crime in this neighbourhood. I would also plead with you not to take the law into your own hands as this could implicate you as suspects too”.

The community asked that police be added to their community groups so that they are aware of what is happenings in their area.

One of the residents that were in attendance, Julius Malehopo is hopeful, saying that the police and community working hand-in-hand will help quell crime in the west.

“We are pleased that the community is prioritising crime in Pretoria West. The area is heavily populated with criminals, and we must work together to combat this scourge.

We are planning a follow-up meeting with the station commander and other stakeholders to better understand and support the crime prevention strategies in place.”

One of the strategies includes forming a crime forum.

“Police leadership must raise the bar in terms of crime-fighting strategies. They must speak out about criminal activity in our community while also improving communication with the people they serve,” Malehopo said.

Malehopo also believes that the Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi taking over the Department of Community Safety will benefit their community in the long run.

“We are relieved that the Premier of Gauteng has taken over the community safety issue. We believe that crime-related issues will get the attention they deserve. We hope that this move will empower communities to combat and root crime out,” he said.

He called out some West police for being in cahoots with the criminals.

“Corruption within the police force must also be addressed. Some officers are openly soliciting bribes, particularly near the Pretoria West police station,” Malehopo said.

Malehopo said the community must come together and play an active role in these structures, and that the residents intend to reach higher forms of governance in future.

“We also need to bring police unions on board so that they understand the community’s frustrations.

We cannot allow corrupt officers to enjoy protection while their own communities suffer. A lot is going on, and as communities, we must stand up and be heard.

Part of our proposed agenda is to use petitions to call on all levels of government to do their part in creating safe environments in communities,” Malehope concluded.

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