CPF Meeting: town under watchful eye of cops and residents
The following matters from the last meeting held on 10 November were briefly discussed again:
MOKOPANE – Residents, members of the Mogalakwena Municipality and the traffic department attended the first annual Community Policing Forum (CPF) meeting for 2016 on Tuesday.
The following matters from the last meeting held on 10 November were briefly discussed again:
• Apollo lights: This concern has as yet not been addressed as Andy Goetsch, chairperson of the CPF, is awaiting an appointment with Mayor Malesela Parks Sebatjane regarding the matter.
• The upgrading of the Mokopane police station: a lot of work has already been done to improve the face of the station.
DA councillor of Ward 32, Yolandé Coetzee, along with hardworking helpers cleaned the roof of the old station.
Goetsch has also spoken to Working on Fire to cut down some of the trees due to safety concerns.
The upgrading of the station is still an ongoing project.
• Loud music: if residents have a recurrent problem with loud music being played they can lay a complaint at the local police station at 081 505 9340 or at the Mogalakwena Fire brigade at (015) 491 4444.
• Home Affairs: according to Coetzee the Home Affair offices will be more spacious within the next 60 days and as a result the queues will be split and residents will be helped sooner.
New matters that were raised at the meeting:
• Akasia has turned into a crime hotspot. The police recently held a meeting with the residents of Akasia and it was decided that they will form a CPF structure.
The crime rate in Akasia is out of control and numerous families have fallen victim to armed robberies.
Coetzee recently had a meeting with personnel of the Mogalakwena Municipality regarding this situation and she will soon address the residents of Akasia regarding the outcome.
Coetzee also brought the broken streetlights and the bushy area that is a crime spot to their attention and it is in the process of being resolved.
One resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, suggested that boom gates to be installed.
• The staggering number of substance abuse: the DAAC Restoration Organisation sent 60% of substance abusers to a rehabilitation centre last year.
The DAAC also supported them when they returned home.
However, more than half of these substance abusers relapsed due to the fact that they struggle to get back on their feet.
This is why the DAAC is starting a farming programme that will help these people.
The police were also asked to help patrol the hotspot areas.
Goetsch said fighting drug abuse is one of the main ways to fight crime.
For more information the DAAC’s offices can be visited at 40 Thabo Mbeki Drive.
• Crime on the corner of Thabo Mbeki and Nelson Mandela Drive and at the hawker shelter: the concern regarding the recurrent incidents during which a group of young men overpowered residents and robbed them on the corner of Thabo Mbeki and Nelson Mandela Drive, were addressed and the police were involved in the matter.
Drugs are sold at the hawker’s shelter; the police took note of this situation and will attend to it.
• Traffic is on the increase and people do not abide by the law. Goetsch said a lot of people are not abiding to the law and the traffic department should be more strict and visible.
The situation with trucks unloading stock in Hooge Street at the back of Pick n Pay and at the back of E.H. Hassim should be addressed as it is an accident waiting to happen.
• Captain Mbangiseni Mariba of the Mokopane police gave a short overview of the crime stats for last year.
Mariba said last year was not a good year regarding the high crime rate in Mokopane especially over the festive season.
However they plan to win the battle against crime and will do everything within their power to rid the town of criminals.
He appealed to residents to give their cooperation and to contact the police with regard to any information that can lead to the arrest of these criminals.
He also appealed to residents to bank their money, to know their employees and to be alert.
The next meeting will take place on 9 February at the Mokopane Detective Offices; residents are more than welcome to attend.
