Community not interested in attending CPF AGM

Not a single member of the public not affiliated to the Benoni Community Policing Forum (CPF) was present at the organisation’s AGM held at Arbor Primary School on November 9.

Benoni residents were not interested in attending the Benoni Community Policing Forum at its AGM. The only people present were CPF members.

The meeting presented a platform for community members to list concerns regarding crime and to find out more about the CPF and its involvement in the fight against crime in Benoni.

There were 16 members of the Benoni CPF present, as well as Col Mark Naidoo of the Benoni SAPS.

Executive chairperson of the Ekurhuleni Central Cluster CPF, Reza Patel said the perception created by the lack of public representation at the AGM suggests all is well in Benoni.

Patel used the meeting to emphasise the role of the CPF, discuss the financial standing of the organisation, amongst others:

Dos and don’ts

Patel said the CPF has had to enforce some changes with regards to the way it conducts its operations as there have been reports of its members conducting themselves illegally.

He said some members were jumping traffic lights, pulling over vehicles and stopping and searching members of the public – all acts which go against the forum’s constitution – unless members are instructed to do so by the SAPS.

“We all want to make a change out there, but in terms of the CPF we are not the police,” Patel said.

“We can’t don attire that says police, we can’t pull people over and we can’t search people.”

He said there are many instances when CPF members may assist police.

“If you are in the company of a policeman and the policeman instructs you – says to you ‘I’m instructing you to stop that car’ – then you may.

“For example, some of our people assist at roadblocks.

“… We are not the police, we are partners to the police.”

He said police resources sometimes call for help from the forum as a means to supplement police numbers.

Financial standing

Patel said the CPF bank account stands at R96 396.36 as of October 31.

This is an increase from R46 179.79 at the same period the previous year.

The organisation has urged the public to continue supporting them through their Adopt a Patroller initiative.

For more information on this, contact Benoni CPF public relations officer Marinda Beukes on 082 920 1548.

Corruption

“As a CPF we are appealing to the community of Benoni to report every single incident of corruption, extortion, manipulation by the SAPS – anything you find that they are not supposed to be doing, must be reported,” the chairperson said.

“If people are uncomfortable reporting it to the police themselves, they may approach the CPF and we will take that matter forward.”

He urged members of the public who would like to report bad elements within the police or community to give detailed information to the relevant authority.