Communities are encouraged to form street committees to combat crime.
The Department of Safety launched a street committee in Troyville on 11 March.
Community police relation coordinator Thabo Thipe said street committees were important because they created a working relationship between the police and the community.
“The community in Troyville is concerned by the rate of crime in the area and wants to make the community safe,” said Thipe. He added that the committee would have street captains who would be responsible for communicating the challenges the community was facing.
The community of Troyville is ready to fight crime.
The captains will also be responsible for sharing issues of service delivery with councillors. The street committees will conduct patrols in the community. “Areas that have street committees have had a decrease in crime, especially your smash-and-grabs and muggings because you have a constant movement of the patrolling teams,” said Thipe. He also encouraged the community to be part of WhatsApp groups because it helped in communicating what was happening in the area.
Fatima Mahomed, a resident in Troyville, said the community needed to come together and fight crime. “Street committees are important because we get to address the crime as a community because we cannot complain about the crimes happening in our areas and do nothing,” said Mahomed.
Stakeholders walked around the area to create awareness and talk to community members about fighting crime. Jeppe CPF chairperson Zola Dambula was also part of the walk.
