The Sector Specialised Operations Patrollers (SSOP) held their first community engagement for 2026, which was well-attended by residents, JMPD, security, and emergency partners.

The meeting, held on Tuesday, February 3, at the Wilro Park Lions Club, was spearheaded by SSOP chairperson Leon Marinus, and it shared valuable insights about SSOP and safety updates and allowed residents to ask questions.

SSOP was launched in January 2025 to tackle crime and assist with emergencies in the greater Roodepoort Region, and they have, over the past year, filled this gap and supported crime-fighting structures within local communities.

“We are built on discipline, visibility, rapid response, and structured operations. We only focus on crime and emergencies. All our members and patrollers have undergone strict vetting processes and training protocols to ensure their efficacy in combating crime,” said Marinus, adding that SSOP is a registered non-profit organisation and is solely supported through sponsorships and donations.

During the meeting, Marinus shared that in 2025, the team worked on amazing projects, including launching their 24/7 operations command centre, foot patroller projects, increased visibility and rapid response, partnering with the Eyes and Ears (E2) crime-fighting initiative, and hosting their first community day, among others.

In the future, Marinus explained, they are looking to host the community day twice this year, install 72 cameras, of which 12 will be license plate recognition cameras, increase community CCTV programmes; foot patrollers in key areas, and join the K9 safety program, increase community awareness and safety programs, and grow capacity in volunteer support.

Marinus also shared crime stats for the month of January, which highlighted crime trends and hotspot areas. He concluded by encouraging residents to open case numbers with the police, as it assists them in their fighting initiative and emphasised the point of working together. Residents all seemed very happy and excited about the future and applauded SSOP for the good work done thus far.