Poor turnout at Enough is Enough launch
The Reiger Park police and CPF have expressed concern over the poor turnout at the launch of the new crime awareness campaign, called “Enough is Enough” or “Genoeg is Genoeg”.
The launch took place on Saturday, August 23, at the Clements Stadium.
“Enough is Enough” is a new initiative aimed at reducing crime and making the Reiger Park policing precinct a safer and more secure area.
“We were expecting thousands of people from the community to attend, but things did not turn out that way,” says the secretary of the Reiger Park Community Policing Forum, Trevor Reeby.
“A poor crowd turned up for the launch, notwithstanding all our efforts to ensure that at least one person per household attended the event.
”It’s such an unfortunate situation when people fail to attend an event that is expected to make a difference in their lives.”
According to Reeby, the event attracted only about 250 people, and these included stakeholders and guests speakers.
“The crowd did not even fill a quarter of the stadium, which can hold thousands of people; I was bitterly disappointed,” he concludes.
Spokesperson for the Reiger Park SAPS, Sgt Mashudu Phathela, says the poor attendance at the launch raises questions about the challenges that lie ahead for the new initiative.
“It is a concern, but we won’t give up,” he says.
”In partnership with other government departments and community forums we will carry out door-to-door campaigns.”
During the launch, members of the community were made aware of the protection of their children, and were encouraged to contribute to the fight against crime practically, by joining the existing forums, such as the CPF.They were also encouraged to start street committees, to become whistle-blowers against crime and to report crime at all times, to desist from creating a market for stolen goods (including not buying stolen items) and to actively get to know their neighbours.
The anti-crime campaign covers Reiger Park, Ramaphosa, the Slovo informal settlement, Delmore Park and Delmore Gardens.
Enough is Enough is part of several other partnership initiatives to intensify the fight against crime in these communities.
For years, Reiger Park has experienced high murder, property crime and drug-related crime rates.
These include gang-related violence, domestic violence and drunken assaults, substance abuse and the recent surge in child killings.
Guest speakers at the event included head of Crime Line Yusuf Abramjee, Judge Mohammed Navsa, Ekurhuleni MMC for Community Safety Mthuthuzeli Siboza, Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi, CEO of the Pacific Institute and Strategic Partner of Re-Imagine Reiger Park Sam Alexander, CPF chairperson Francis Coetzee, Reiger Park SAPS station commander Col Sipho Mathebula, Ward 34 councillor Charlie Crawford, Reiger Park Youth Forum’s Chetwick Wagner, Taegrin’s mother Chantal Morris and Cuburne van Wyk’s parents.
– @FanieBoksburg
