Bedfordview CPF’s new head of patrollers Jacques Steyn has a lifetime of crime-fighting under his belt.
Both his father and grandfather were police officers and Jacques himself made his first arrest in 1981 while in Grade Seven.
Just five years later in 1986, he assisted in the arrest of a rapist and since then he knew that law enforcement was a natural progression for him.
He joined the national air force after school and served in the fire and rescue services. While his life took him in a different direction, Jacques decided to first join the CPF in 2013 while living in Kempton Park.
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He served on the Kempton Park CPF executive committee before moving to Bedfordview in 2016 to join the ranks of the Bedfordview CPF.
“I think it’s important to contribute to the community in any way possible,” Jacques said.
“I believe that everyone can do their little bit to fight crime.”
He added that he would like to see as many people as possible join the CPF in Bedfordview to be part of essential crime-fighting in the area.
“Everyone can do something. Anyone can be the eyes and ears for the SAPS and report suspicious activity or come up with fund-raising ideas and community projects.”
“We need to identify the real needs in the community and we need to get together to meet those needs.”
Jacques said that an important part of community policing is to know the people who live in the neighbourhood.
“If everyone just took the time to get to know their neighbour, we would already have a safer suburb. If you know who lives around you, you’ll be able to know when something isn’t right at their home,” he said.
“Knowing the community is the key to building a safer community.”
In his new role Jacques will focus on training of CPF members and patrollers.
“I want to grow the CPF as well as get a dedicated support system going for those in need in the community. The CPF is an organisation for the community by the community,” Jacques said.
What many might not know is that Jacques is passionate about cars and sights Ferrari as his favourite car brand. For the last 10 years Jacques has worked as a car salesman but his passion for automobiles goes a little deeper.
He has been a motorsport marshall since 1993 and from 1997 he served as a clerk of the course and environmental steward.
Jacques is also a dedicated member of the SA Motor Clubs Association, which oversees more than 3 000 motor clubs in South Africa and he has judged for the bike Grand Prix at Priska.
For many years he was a rugby player featuring in school teams as well as teams for the air force and social clubs.
“I also enjoy art and volleyball.”
