Concern remains over Johannesburg Metro Police Department attendance at Community Policing Forum meetings
JMPD said it maintains an annual target of 100% attendance for all invited CPF meetings, but that's not what residents are seeing.
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD)’s attendance at Community Policing Forum (CPF) meetings has come under scrutiny, after residents raised concerns about representatives failing to attend recent meetings and provide feedback on by-law matters.
JMPD, however, maintains that its official records show 100% attendance at all formally invited CPF meetings, highlighting a discrepancy between residents’ experiences and the department’s reported attendance figures.
One of the meetings they missed was the recent Parkview and Bramley CPF meeting. Albert de Bondt, chairperson of the CraigPark Residents Association (CRA), who was in attendance at the Parkview CPF public meeting on July 22, said the CRA remained concerned by the lack of consistent JMPD participation in local community and CPF structures.
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“This is particularly important in our suburbs, which have significant public green spaces and persistent by-law-related challenges. The CPF provides an established forum where residents’ associations, SAPS, private security, and other stakeholders can engage directly.”
De Bondt added that the residents association often has constructive discussions with SAPS, but many matters ultimately require JMPD involvement. Private security companies cannot enforce municipal by-laws, while SAPS also has limitations where matters fall within JMPD’s mandate. He noted that there was no equivalent regular forum through which residents’ associations can engage directly with JMPD.
“Communities can therefore find themselves caught between the two authorities, with SAPS advising that JMPD needs to be involved and JMPD indicating that it needs to work with SAPS, while JMPD is not consistently present in the forum where these stakeholders are already meeting.”
Fairland CPF chairperson Dr Gulam Karim agreed. “It would be difficult if JMPD is expected to attend two to four sector meetings in one police precinct, due to their availability. It is then advisable to invite JMPD to the CPF monthly meetings, to discuss by-law challenges and crime prevention initiatives.”
JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla said regional commanders assign superintendents, inspectors, or sector officers to represent the department at CPF sector and executive committee (Exco) meetings in their respective regions.
Fihla further explained that designated officers are expected to attend all monthly CPF sector and Exco meetings within their areas when formally invited, ensuring ongoing co-ordination on local public safety and by-law enforcement matters.
“Under our legislative compliance obligations for integrated planning and execution between law enforcement agencies and communities, the JMPD operates under a strict key performance indicator (KPI), tracking the percentage of invited CPF meetings attended. The department maintains an annual target of 100% attendance for all invited CPF meetings.”
The spokesperson said JMPD’s internal performance audits recorded 100% attendance, with officers attending every formally invited CPF meeting across all quarters.
This, however, contrasts with residents’ concerns about missed meetings. He said regional commanders investigate any missed meetings to determine whether operational demands or communication breakdowns were to blame.
Also read: Parkview CPF and SAPS address community crime concerns
JMPD attendance relied directly on active CPF structures and formal invitations issued by SAPS station leadership.
Below is the regional breakdown reflecting active vs non-active CPF station statuses, and recorded meeting attendances:
Region A
• Active CPF stations: Midrand, Douglasdale, and Sandton.
• Non-active CPF stations: Ivory Park, Rabie Ridge, and Diepsloot.
• Attendance summary: 100% attendance recorded for all invitations received (eg, four invites received and four attended in Q1; five invites received and five attended in Q2).
Region B
• Active CPF stations: Langlaagte, Parkview, Rosebank, Fairland, Linden, Randburg, and Bramley.
• Non-active or inactive structures: Sophiatown (there were no meetings) and Brixton (there were no meetings).
• Attendance summary: All scheduled CPF meetings were attended where active forums exist, with verification maintained via written debrief reports from attending superintendents.
Also read: Bramley Community Policing Forum Sector 2 aims to tackle societal ills
Region E
• Active CPF stations: Sandringham, Sandton, Bramley, Alexandra, and Douglasdale.
• Non-active CPF stations: Rabie Ridge, Edenvale, Sebenza, and Norwood.
• Attendance summary: Full deployment and representation maintained across all active CPF Exco, sector, and integrated security forum meetings upon receipt of formal invitations.
Residents experiencing by-law issues who are unable to raise them at CPF meetings due to inactive structures can utilise several direct official channels:
• City of Johannesburg Emergency Call Centre: 011 375 5911 or 0800 002 587 for by-law violations, illegal dumping, public nuisances, or traffic obstructions,
• By-Law Management Unit: Email EldredF@joburg.org.za for persistent or specialised by-law issues, or
• Regional command: Contact your local JMPD regional office for recurring issues.
Residents can also contact or email their respective JMPD regional commander or chief superintendent to report or escalate unresolved local issues:
• Region A: Chief Superintendent Joyce Moepye. joycemoep@joburg.org.za
• Region B: Chief Superintendent Rachel Matsepe. RachelMat@joburg.org.za
• Region E: Chief Superintendent Tintswalo Emosacia Rikhotso. EmosaciaR@joburg.org.za
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