Pretoria West residents who participated in the talk. Photo: Supplied
Pretoria West police and local stakeholders have urged residents to report every crime to help law enforcement track criminal trends.
Members of the Pretoria West SAPS joined the community policing forum (CPF) executive committee and Ward 3 councillor Malesela Rakebe for a Safety Awareness Dialogue earlier this month.
The dialogue was aimed at educating the community on crime prevention and tackling gender-based violence.
Constable Sibongile Vuma stressed that reporting minor offences is essential for accurate crime analysis, enabling effective resource deployment.
“We want to encourage residents not to protect known offenders out of fear, as this allows criminals to continue committing offences without consequence,” said Vuma.
CPF Deputy Chairperson Tumelo Malatji shared several safety precautions, advising community members to use well-populated routes during early morning or late afternoon hours, avoid walking in isolated areas, and remain vigilant.
“Motorists are advised to avoid parking in secluded locations and to pay attention to vehicles that may be following them, as many hijackings occur when drivers are unaware of their surroundings,” Malatji said.
Residents gathered at the Methodist Church. Photo: Supplied
Protecting children and reporting abuse
Parents and guardians were advised to educate children on personal safety, warning them against accepting lifts or trusting individuals with whom they feel uncomfortable, regardless of familiarity.
Community members were also urged to report any form of abuse, whether committed by strangers, acquaintances or family members.
During the question-and-answer session, community members raised various concerns regarding safety and policing.
Residents taking part in the Safety Awareness Dialogue at the Methodist Church. Photo: Supplied
Constable Vuma provided information on sector policing, including the operation of sector vehicles and the roles of sector managers assigned to each sector.
“We want to reassure you all that it is the mandate of the South African Police Service to ensure the safety and security of all community members,” Vuma said.
“We further encourage residents to continue sharing information with the police, seek assistance when required, and report crimes.”
Manna Maurice is a content writer and photographer currently working as a journalist for the Pretoria Rekord newspaper. He covers stories affecting Pretoria residents specifically in the West and Central. Manna has been part of the Rekord team since July 2022. He has a BA degree in Journalism from the University of Johannesburg and an Honours degree in Media Studies from Unisa.
