SECUNDA – The local police and the Secunda Community Policing Forum (CPF) are working together to combat crime in all four sectors in town.
As part of their crime fighting cooperation, each has a police officer who acts as sector commander and police liaison.
The three police officers currently fulfilling these rolls are W/O Oosie Oosthuizen (Sector 3), W/O Andries Ngcobo (Sector 1) and Const PJ Mnisi (Sector 4).
According to W/O Ngcobo, Sector 2 does not have a police officer acting as commander and liaison at the moment.
“Though there is no person appointed in Sector 2, all three of the other sector commanders are standing in and making sure that Sector 2 is covered and that the CPF patrolling there receive the necessary support. ”
W/O Oosthuizen explained what the role of the sector commanders are: “We are the link between the CPF and the police force.
“We oversee the CPF patrols and make sure that they are done correctly and with the necessary support from the police, and advise them on all legal matters.”
According to W/O Ngcobo, the cooperation between the police and CPF offers the public a unique service.
“We work in conjunction with the CPF to combat crime and to assist them with sector security programmes.
“We go on patrol with the CPF in police vehicles to ensure these patrols are done correctly and to offer support as needed.”
According to these police officers, each of the four different sectors in Secunda presents their own particular challenges.
W/O Ncgobo is particularly concerned over the large number of homeless and indigent people who often spend the night in Sector 1.
These people are desperate and in all likelihood unemployed, which more often than not means they might commit crimes in order to survive.
In Sector 3, W/O Oosthuizen is concerned over the high number of housebreakings and theft of smaller items such as security lights.
In Sector 4, Const Mnisi is concerned over housebreakings, theft from motor vehicles and drunk and negligent driving.
In fact, all three police officers confirmed the prevalence of theft from vehicles, housebreakings and drunk and negligent driving pose a constant problem in all four sectors.
Drug abuse and drug-related crimes are also rife and pose a particularly difficult problem in Secunda, as the local community often does not report these crimes.
W/O Oosthuizen explained that the police need the community to become more involved and report crimes and suspicious activities as soon as they become aware of these actions.
“We need the community to understand that they play an important role in crime prevention.
“We need informers, people who see criminal or suspicious activities and report them to the CPF or police.
“The CPF is looking at manning their new control room on a 24-hour basis and for this to become a reality, they need sponsors from the community to be able to pay the control room operators proper salaries.”
She also urged the community to become members of the CPF.
“The CPF needs trustworthy and dedicated members to help with patrols.
“If you cannot help out during the evenings, you can help during the day, because housebreakings occur at all hours and daytime patrols are also important.”
W/O Ngcobo urged the community to be on the look out for pedestrians walking with electronics or household goods and to not buy suspicious looking secondhand goods.
“The community must take responsibility and stop supporting criminals.
“Check the origin of anything you buy and do not give money to beggars at robots or stop streets.
“Keep your valuable possessions out of site in you car as you drive and make very sure that your car is locked when you park somewhere.”
W/O Oosthuizen agreed and warned the public about remote signal-jammers.
“I know that people think this is a urban legend, but believe us it is not.
“I have used various electric gate motor remote controls to demonstrate to people that if you press the remote button, your car key central locking button will not work.
“Stand next to your car, lock the doors and make sure that they are locked before you walk away.”
Residents are also urged to take responsibility for their homes and make sure that their alarm systems are armed and that they keep doors, windows and gates locked.
“If you live next to an open space or green area, help the CPF and police by installing spotlights with a sturdy cover so that they cannot be broken with bricks or stolen.”
Const Mnisi ended the discussion by confirming that the public are the ears and eyes of the police and CPF.
“The police will always try to be there and to patrol and give support to the CPF, but without community involvement there is no chance of success.
“We must all work together.”
Capt Betinna Zondo confirmed that the public can still call the 10111 police emergency number, but also gave alternative numbers for the Secunda Police Station and the Secunda CPF control room.
“With the school holidays approaching, the 10111 number will once again be swamped by time wasting calls from school children who find it entertaining to call the number and give false information or play pranks on the operators.
“This should be avoided at all costs as the 10111 number is used for reporting emergencies and these pranksters might be placing someone’s life in danger.”
The police can be reached at 017 624 2241, 017 624 2242, 017 624 2243or and 017 624 2244.
The CPF control room’s numbers are 060 641 0636 and 079 909 0648.
“Cut out these numbers and place them on your fridge or keep them in your car, make sure you always know who to call for help,” said Capt Zondo.
