Alberton CPF urges residents to join
The Alberton CPF is creating a team of patrollers and needs your help to get more people to join them.
The CPF in Alberton is a pivotal platform for enhancing community safety and fostering collaboration between the Alberton SAPS and residents.
Established under the SAPS Act 68 of 1995, CPFs aim to promote accountability of the local police to the community and vice versa.
They play a crucial role in monitoring the effectiveness and efficiency of the police service, advising on local policing priorities and evaluating the provision of services. These include resource distribution, complaint handling and patrols in residential and business areas.
According to Deidre de Carvalho of the Alberton CPF, the local CPF aims to create and maintain a partnership with the community, improve the police’s service to community members and promote joint problem identification and problem-solving.
She said CPFs are essential in the SA policing landscape, striving to create a safe and secure environment for all citizens.
“By joining the Alberton CPF as a patroller, together with the team, you will engage in various activities that aim to enhance the relationship between the police and the community we serve. Typical activities include organising community meetings to discuss safety concerns and co-ordinating neighbourhood watch programmes,” De Carvalho explained.
They regularly host forums where locals can engage with law enforcement officers and security companies to ask questions and receive updates on policing and security efforts.
“These forums can cover topics such as the process for filing complaints against officers and the consequences of noncompliance with SAPS’ laws and policies. Active participation in the Alberton CPF also leads to a deeper understanding of the challenges law enforcement faces and the complexities of maintaining law and order,” De Carvalho said.
In addition to these formal activities, they host social events which help build camaraderie and trust between police officers and community members.
De Carvalho said such events are opportunities for informal interactions and discussions, contributing to a more approachable and friendly image of the police.
“Overall, the activities of CPFs are diverse and tailored to the community’s needs, with the ultimate goal of creating a safer, more harmonious environment where the police and citizens work together towards common objectives. Participation in these activities can lead to a greater sense of community, reduced crime rates and an improved quality of life for all involved,” she said.
The CPF patrollers are residents who volunteer their time and agree to spend a certain number of hours in their cars, patrolling the streets as eyes and ears for the SAPS.
These volunteers must have their fingerprints taken by SAPS, wear an identification card and adhere to a code of conduct.
The patrollers will wear CPF-branded shirts and reflective jackets and use two-way radios to communicate with each other and the SAPS.
The Alberton CPF is divided into three sectors as follows:
• Sector 1 – Alberante, Alberton CBD, General Albertspark, New Market, Raceveiw, Randhart, South Crest.
• Sector 2 – Alberton North, Elandshaven, Florentia, Verwoerdpark.
• Sector 3 – Leondale, Leondale Gardens, Phumula extensions 21 and 22, Rondebult extensions 2 and 23, Roodekop extensions 25 and 31.
If you are interested in joining, call Robert Leighton (patrol co-ordinator) on 082 442 0451, Wilma van Zyl (chairperson) on 076 105 0859, Bonginkosi Ngobese (deputy chairperson) on 065 728 2919 or Tshepo Maesela (secretary) on 071 644 8509.
