CPF ExCo getting back to business

Voluntary all-hours commitment to the cause is an unglamorous, free-time sapping endeavour.

The executive committee of the Roodepoort Community Policing Forum (CPF), together with Roodepoort Police members from the Social Crime Prevention (SCP) unit and various sector managers held an ExCo meeting at Roodepoort Police Station on 13 May. In-person meetings have been a luxury in recent times but through their strong communication channels, all role players have been carrying out their tasks efficiently.

Colonel Lukas Nkosi delivered his crime report that compared fourth quarter figures with last year’s corresponding quarter. The figures were encouraging reading as the acting station commander noted overall decreases in murders, sexual offences, aggravated armed robbery and common assault cases. He chalked those successes up to the stellar work done by patrollers and the SCP unit.

Sector-specific information highlighted the continued trends throughout the various sector hotspots. In Sector 1, Roodekrans and Wilro Park continue to fight house robberies and motor vehicle thefts, while Sectors 2 and 3 have ongoing problems with aggravated robberies, theft of and from motor vehicles, common assault and drugs. Sector 4, which features Matholesville, Roodepoort CBD and Durban Deep, recorded murder, attempted murder and illegal mining as the most prevalent crimes.

The members present discussed the circumstances that breed crime as well as possible solutions. Crime generators included an increase in commuters, overcrowded streets and easy access to drugs, all issues exacerbated by unemployment created by the lockdown. Reporting crime was also addressed, with Roodepoort Police spokesperson, Captain Juanita Yorke reiterating, “Please do not call the station directly. Call 112 and ask for Gau-teng 10111.”

Technology is the greatest asset for both the public and those doing what they can to keep them safe. SCP’s Constable Lerato Mailula gave a brief demonstration on the effectiveness of the Namola app, which like the my SAPS app, creates a direct link to the nearest first responders, turning a smartphone into a panic button or crime-reporting device.

The CPF is a vital link between everyday citizens and the men and women in uniform. It has the ability to empower communities to elevate their own residents to positions that can bring tangible results through coordination with authorities. Where the effort is put in, the positive outcomes can be felt, putting the opportunity for change in the hands of residents.