Springs CPF, police and metro meet at broader forum meeting
Van Heerden stated that school and daycare safety and service delivery will be the two major focus points of the New CPF executive committee in Springs for 2019.
The Springs Community Police Forum recently held their quarterly meeting at the Springs Police Station.
This was the first meeting with the new leadership of the Springs executive board of the CPF with representatives from all the CPF sectors in Springs, the SAPS, the EMPD and the leadership of the Springs Police Station.
The new executive of the Springs CPF is:
Chairman: Barend van Heerden
Deputy Chairman: Mike Masilela
Secretary: Ian de Beer
Treasurer: Kobus Woolmarais
Public Relations Officer: Arles Baloyi
Kicking off the meeting, van Heerden addressed the issue of stray livestock in Springs, and handed over written complaints to Supt Anton Labuschagne of the Springs EMPD.
“This has been a problem in Springs for the past five years in all sectors and the N17.
“It’s very dangerous for all our members and one guy almost lost his life after an accident.
“The metro has to start enforcing the by-laws which includes fining the owners R200 per animal.
“No fines will be scrapped,”says van Heerden.
In response, the superintendent says they will make it a priority to get hold of the owners of the livestock, and would provide an update at the next meeting.
The superintendent also reminded community members that if they should spot a drunk person, it is a metro police problem not a police matter.
The 24-hour metro number to call is 011 999 9360 or 063 096 8326.
“If your call/complaint to the EMPD is not handled correctly or you have problems, the best thing to do is to complain to management in writing as soon as possible so there is a paper trail,” says Labuschagne.
Other issues attended to were crime scene management, how to handle a missing child case and how to report poisoning of dogs (one must open a malicious damage to property case with SAPS).
Members were also urged to report service delivery issues with reference numbers to Arles Baloyi the executive committee PRO, particularly street lights as the lack thereof makes it harder for the police and CPFs to patrol.
Part of van Heerden’s mission for the year is to renovate the garden at the police stations and he will be donating rose bushes.
The chairman appealed for donations of any gardening supplies.
ISSUES IN VARIOUS SECTORS:
Sector 1:
-Smash and grabs remain prevalent in the CBD. Opportunistic criminals spot motorists driving with their cellphones and attack them as soon as they stop.
-Theft out of motor vehicles continues to be a problem as motorists continue to drive with valuable goods on display.
– Business break-ins. There are one or two break-ins every day in the CBD and the police are urging business owners to improve their security by installing roller doors, burglar bars and improved lighting.
Sector 2:
– House break-ins, especially from 7am to 7pm. Most happen as a result of the house owners employees opening the door for people for repairs without verifying with the owners first.
– Cable theft, mostly in Daggafontein and Struisbult at around midnight on Thursday evening. The police and the metro must be called so that the perpetrators can be charged with destruction of infrastructure if found tampering with municipal property.
– Card scamming remains a problem.
Sector 3:
– Assault GBH, particularly in Endicott and KwaZenzele.
– Burglary residential, particularly in outside rooms in Casseldale and Endicott.
– Assault (common) in Strubenvale and the N17 informal settlement.
– Theft from motor vehicles, especially in Strubenvale and Casseldale.
-Theft of motorcycles, again in Strubenvale and Casseldale.
– Theft (Springs Mall)
– Malicious damage to property (Endicott)
– Strubenvale has been particularly hit hard by the theft of manhole cover which leaves pedestrians vulnerable to falling into the 3metre deep drains. Theft of gate motors is also a problem in Strubenvale with three being stolen in one night on one occasion.
– In the rural parts of Sector 3, theft of livestock (particularly poultry) remains a problem, as does trespassing and murder.
Sector 4:
– Motorists were urged to be hyper vigilant when travelling on the N12 (Etwatwa off-ramp) as there is a gang operating there attacking people. If you should breakdown on that route, try to move away from there as soon as possible.
– From Enstra all the way to the Bakerton traffic lights, the area remains a smash and grab hotspot.
– Noise disturbance from across the railway in Bakerton.
Sector 5:
– The high number of housebreaking incidents in Modder East and Dersley remain a concern.
– Common theft in Geduld an issue.
– The Absa ATM at Springsgate is a hotspot for card scammers with the elderly being targeted.
– Noise disturbance from Skoonplaas is an issue.
Sector 6:
-Springs West Road is a smash and grab hotspot.
– A number of pedestrians have been attacked on South Main Reef Road and suspects are armed.
– Business robbery in New Era and Geduld on the rise.
– Dal Fouche is a hijacking hotspot.
Closing the meeting, Van Heerden stated that school and day care safety and service delivery will be the two major focus points of the New CPF executive committee in Springs for 2019.
Follow us on our social media platforms:
