The newly-elected Cleveland Community Police Forum (CCPF) chairperson, Ms Alison van der Molen, saluted the colleagues of police officers who were killed in the line of duty.
“These devastating killings have an unimaginable impact on their colleagues too. To them it is like losing a member of the family. These officers protected each other in life-threatening situations many times and suddenly their colleagues are gone,” she said.
She made the statement following the death of Warrant Officer Sibusiso Ndlovu, from the Cleveland SAPS.
W/O Ndlovu died during a shoot-out between the police and suspects near the Jeppe Hostel on July 11. The officers were responding to a business robbery.
During his memorial service, the Cleveland SAPS station commander, Colonel Bongani Dlamini, described W/O Ndlovu’s death as a huge loss.
“We lost one of the bravest members. He was an officer who could groom other members to work with him. He was always a well-dressed officer. Never would you find him without his bulletproof vest. Even at the time of his death, he was wearing his bulletproof vest,” said Col Dlamini.
A Jeppe SAPS officer was also gunned down about two weeks later in the same area where W/O Ndlovu was shot.
The two officers are part of the growing number of police officers killed in the line of duty recently.
Ms Van Der Molen said, “Against all odds, police officers have to continue doing their job.”
“These members do not have time to mourn. They have to put on their uniform and go out to the streets where their colleagues died. They have to fight crime. I take my hat off for those men and women,” said Ms Van Der Molen.
She called on the residents to be part of the CPFs in their areas.
“The CPF meeting is where crime method are discussed. All crime-related problems are raised and addressed to improve crime fighting in the precinct. Residents are the core of this fight against crime. If they are not speaking up on the issues that are affecting them, the police and CPF will not be able to rectify and facilitate change to make the area safer,” she said.
She said communication between the residents and the police is important in the fight against crime.
“The SAPS is there to serve the community, the community needs to set its priority right, work with the police to make the area safe. The information that is given to the police is the only way we can monitor the service delivery of the police,” she said.
For more information on the CCPF, email Roslyn Cassidy at rcassidy423@gmail.com or the chairperson, Ms Van der Molen, at claireme44@gmail.com
Residents are urged to keep the following contact numbers for the Cleveland SAPS:
- Station commander, Colonel Bongani Dlamini, 082 372 0178.
- Head of visible policing, Lieutenant Colonel Miya, 082 455 7834.
- Sector 1 (Bruma and Cyrildene) manager, W/O Jordaan 082 4657530. The sector vehicle number is 071 675 6071
- Sector 2 (Kensington) manager, W/O Crouse 082 499 0197. The sector vehicle number is 071 675 6072.
- Sector 3 (Malvern) manager, Constable Dlamini 082 568 4607. The sector vehicle number is 071 675 6073.
- Sector 4 (Denver) manager, Constable Khangale 082 498 9619. The sector vehicle number is 071 675 6070.
