Meet the new Alex police spokesperson

Alex Police Station appointed a new local-born spokesperson to take over from Captain Allie Kodisang who was assigned to other duties.

Captain Stephen Malatji (50) was also brought up in Tembisa and his rural home in Tzaneen, Limpopo after Africans were forcibly relocated from the township by the previous government. He joined the police service in 1991 and served stints at Jeppe and Joburg Central police stations before being transferred ‘home’ to Alex in 2003 where he hopes to retire when its time.

“I gained experience through police ranks, street beat, arrests and court appearances consolidated my career which is highly reliant on collaborative relations with communities. Seventy-five percent of our is time spent in communities and police success should be attributed to their collaboration which needs to be strengthened and consolidated more in Alex,”Malatji said.

He urged for the collective approach to be strengthened to stop residents being overcome by criminals he said roamed the streets freely and created fear in homes. This said in reference to robberies which occur in the streets at daytime in the glare of the public said to laugh and walk past victims being mugged.

Malatji said residents have a right to effect citizens’ arrest but not to beat suspects and, to do so with due care avoiding those who could be armed and dangerous who instead, should be reported. “Being the eyes and ears of the police assists as they can’t be everywhere. Turning a blind eye is shortsightedness as everyone, their family and associates, can also be victims of crime. Report crime on time including one committed by people you may know so that police can effect arrests on time.”

Malatjie decried the public’s laxity on security attributing ít to continuing ‘honeymoon’ he said derives from the new dispensation which made residents look up to the police alone to secure their freedoms. “The past culture of street committees in partnership with the police should be revived to rid the streets of criminals. They shouldn’t be vigilantes but vigilant formal structures of the community to prevent criminals infiltrating their neighbourhoods.”

He said the structures’ constant presence at street and community level won’t replace but complement community police forum members who are mostly based at the police station. “As before, they should comprise of active, respectable and influential residents to avoid negative influences, infuse a spirit of accountability in residents and discourage the buying of stolen and illicit goods which is a criminal offence.”

He said the committees should also prevent assaults, burning and killing of criminal suspects as they could be innocent victims. Residents were also urged to provide police with detailed evidence on crime to assist the investigation, ensure conviction, avoid the release of suspects and loss of trust between police and residents.

Details: Alex Police Station 011 321 7621.