Bluff CPF questions viability of SAPS’ new initiative
The campaign, aimed at preventing and combatting several crimes, was launched under the theme 'extending our reach through blue light visibility'.
THE Bluff Community Policing Forum (CPF) has welcomed the recently launched the Country in Blue operational concept by the South African Police Service (SAPS) however it has expressed its misgivings.
The campaign, aimed at preventing and combatting several crimes, was launched under the theme ‘extending our reach through blue light visibility’.
“The concept will see all operational SAPS vehicles being driven by members of the SAPS with the emergency warning blue lights switched on to enhance and heighten police visibility from sunset to sunrise (18:00 to 06:00),” said police spokesperson, Colonel Thembeka Mbhele.
This concept aims to prevent and combat a host of crimes which include gender-based violence, aggravated robberies such as carjacking, business and residential robberies, commonly known as trio crimes as well as tracing of wanted suspects and the proliferation of firearms.
The minister of police, General Bheki Cele, the premier of KZN, Sihle Zikalala, and the national commissioner of SAPS, General Khehla Sitole, were in attendance.
However, Bluff CPF chairman Andy Rossell has questioned the viability of this initiative.
“What are they trying to achieve? The CPF has done a fantastic job out there what is the need for another project? These are our questions to the police. “
During the hard lockdown, they stopped the CPF from doing patrols. We’ve never really recovered from that, going forward we don’t understand what the SAPS’ goals are. It’s not a new initiative this has been around for some years now and hasn’t yielded any results. How come they are now trying to generate traffic from it? Is there still even a need for the CPF? Are they planning to close down the CPFs by bringing in Country in Blue? We just don’t see a need for this initiative,” he said.
Rossell shared that some members were even considering leaving the forum to establish a registered security company instead. “It is not a route I’d like to take but our primary goal is to make sure that the Bluff is safe. We are not going to be dictated to again and be closed down should the need arise. We need to ensure that we have something viable, although this could have a negative effect on our local security companies. The CPF has done very well out here but only with our own guidance and with help from our community. The Bluff was one of the most secure areas during the riots in July and this was only because the community came together.”
His private secretary, Shay Donaldson shared similar sentiments. “Everyone wants to be safe and that is all we want to ensure. We want to create a safe environment for all of our residents and they can help us do this by being alert in their areas and to be visible. We need more youth to join the CPF but there are issues around that as some young people are vigilantes and are immature. They don’t join for the right reasons whereas the point is to invest in your community,” she said.
The policing forum reported that its sniper cameras have been excellent in terms of deterring suspicious vehicles from entering the Bluff. They will be installing another three thanks to investment from members and the community. There are also plans to establish a dog squad unit in the area.
Rossell also expressed on challenges encountered with the Brighton Beach SAPS when it came to reporting criminal activities and said this posed an added challenge in controlling crime. The station was not able to confirm whether the Country in Blue initiative had been introduced to the Bluff yet.
Concerning the grievances expressed by the CPF, Brighton Beach communications officer, Captain Louise le Roux said it is the station commander and sector commander who deal directly with the CPF and she could not comment on the matter by the time of going to print.
