SHARPEVILLE – What was meant to be a smoothly ran police and community engagement meeting on ways to deal with crime, ended as a complaints commission.
This is after livid residents of Sharpeville told police bosses from Sedibeng Cluster, how local police work with criminals instead of innocent community members.
According to a number of residents who raised their grievances during the Community Partnership Engagement on Wednesday, 10 May, they don’t trust cops because they share information with alleged drug dealers when they report them.
Following a well-executed presentation by police bosses during the public participation imbizo at Leboa Primary School, an opportunity was afforded to the gathered crowds, who had more complaints than compliments regarding their police station.
Raising their frustrations, Tebogo Kele said police must first sort the rot in the force before seeking the assistance of the community.
“Residents of Sharpeville are willing to work with the police at any time, however, we should be able to trust you (referring to police management sitting in the front). Fix your house before you come to us,” he said.
Kele further added that police ‘sell them out’ to dealers in their township when they report their business.
“We know shops that sell drugs, when you report the cases, the same police come out and tell drug dealers about our whilst blowing. How do we begin to trust the police while they lay us bare? Our own people are selling us,” he said.
Ouma Mazibuko said “We understand you want us to create a good working relationship, but we don’t get the same feedback from the police at our station.
When we report a crime, police tell us how busy they are. If the trust issues can be solved, we can have a good relationship with saps”.
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster on the sidelines, Acting Cluster Commissioner, Brigadier Mbangwa Nkhwashu explained the importance of the meetings.
“We came out to understand the grievances of residents pertaining crime in their policing precinct so that we can have a partnership with their community. Law enforcers alone cannot police each and every corner without the public assisting them on crimes known to them. The community has the responsibility to help us with information on who commits crime,” he said.
Nkhwashu said the programme will be extended to all fourteen police precincts in the Sedibeng region.
“We have been conducting these engagements in several police stations including Orange Farm, De Deur, Meyerton, Sebokeng, and now at Sharpeville. This is an ongoing program that aims to win the hearts of the community in trusting police officers in their areas.
“Policing has taken a different dynamic compared to the age-old police. In accordance with our constitution, in order to police, all stakeholders including the community need to play their role for the betterment of their societies we live in, and we are willing to listen and work together,” he said.
