Sebenza Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairperson and Community Police Board chair of Ekurhuleni North Cluster Andrew Mosesi shared his goals for 2020, and reflected on the previous year’s performance in the Sebenza precinct recently.
He outlined the 2019 objectives whose aims was to increase crime campaigns and to increasingly involve the community in helping to reduce, among others, crime in the Sebenza policing precinct, gender-based violence (GBV), domestic violence, drugs and theft out of motor vehicle and theft of motor vehicles.
Mosesi said crimes such as GBV, domestic violence and crimes against children, were under control in 2019.
“The police worked closely with sector managers and the Social Crime Prevention department. The police listened more to community complaints, and our sector managers and the Sebenza police managers were available 24 hours a day,” said Mosesi.
“The station commander of Sebenza was always available, and took action where there were complaints, and acted effectively,” said Mosesi.
Turning to 2019, Mosesi said Sebenza CPF did not do well in addressing crime awareness campaigns. He said this was due to the lack of community volunteers.
However, he said community meetings created awareness which resulted in the reduction of theft out of motor vehicle and theft of motor vehicles crimes.
He said as a community they were happy with what the police had achieved in the area.
“Thank you to the national and provincial government for increasing resources such as vehicles for Sebenza station,” he said.
For the current year, Mosesi said they were hoping that additional personnel would be added to the station.
“The more personnel the police have, the more they can provide much needed service delivery.”
He said Sebenza CPF’s biggest challenge last year was getting the community to be actively involved in combating crime.
“There are certain crimes where we believe the community were witnesses to crime but did not come forward to give information. If we can have the community helping the police as their eyes and ears, then the SAPS will be able to crack many cases,” said the CPF chairperson.
Joining CPF groups can help residents to acquire life-saving tools for their families.
“Residents can learn how to spot bank following crime, ways to identify cars following you, get crime trends and criminals modus operandi. This information is not documented as the trends always change, so meetings are very educational,” he said.
Other highlights of the previous year included Sector 4 community involvement which Mosesi said was great.
“Sector 1 Cresslawn has been great with assisting the police. We still have good people who do their bit without us knowing,” said Mosesi.
He said he hoped to see the municipality getting more involved in 2020.
“The councillors, MMC of Community Safety and Department of Community Safety, need to do more for us to excel in 2020.”
He said he looked forward to seeing councillors calling public meetings about service delivery which could include efforts to combat crime.
“Service delivery affects crime. If the grass is not cut, this encourages more crime. If there are no street lights, it also calls for more crime.”
Some of the successful structures that were active this past year included the taxi association forum, which was held consistently every second month.
Additionally, the Sebenza Business Forum was also established.
“Security companies forum in Sebenza worked well with SAPS and CPF. Community Sector Crime forums were set up but these had their ups and down.
“Only recently was the Sector 2 Croydon established because it’s a gated area driven by estate bodies. Sector 4 has sustained itself in the past four years,” he said.
Another 2019 success story noted by Mosesi included the installation of Licence Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras.
“It is a great technology with many cases resolved through its use. I believe the government needs to invest in these cameras for safer communities and SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) should improve their cameras and get the LPR that will help to reduce crime,” said Mosesi.
This year he said the improvement on civil oversight of the police will be looked into.
Sustaining the current structures will be another objective.
“By mid-2020 we would like to have a functional youth crime prevention desk. Youth between the ages of 16 and 35 who would like to organise the youth of Sebenza and keep them off the streets for good causes, should join,” said Mosesi.
He said he would like to see more campaigns where women, children and the elderly are supported.
“These are abused women, abused children, child-headed homes and elderly couples, who are alone. The youth can go and clean up their homes, give them visits and provide support.
“The year 2019 has come and gone, and we look forward to improving as a community in 2020, ” said Mosesi.
