There is no greater force than a community that stands united against social ills such as crime.
On Saturday, last week, Ekurhuleni mayor Clr Mondli Gungubele and a team of senior officials, including the city manager, Khaya Ngema, and chief of police Bafana Mahlabe, met with the Ekurhuleni Crime Intervention Unit (ECIU), in Van Dyk Park, Boksburg.
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The ECIU is a structure that was formed by residents from various towns in Ekurhuleni, who are intent on rooting out the criminal elements that plague their communities.
During the meeting Richard Pillay, chairperson of the ECIU, described how the structure came into being because, as residents, they are tired of constantly living in fear of being robbed, killed or assaulted in their own neighbourhoods.
As the first point of contact for all crime and public order policing matters, Mahlabe responded to the unit’s call for assistance by pledging to facilitate a tactical response and raid plan, which will involve the members of the ECIU and SAPS.
“Crime affects us all, and we, the custodians of community safety, pledge to work closely with the entire community of Ekurhuleni and the SAPS to rid our streets of crime,” said Mahlabe.
“We will leave no place for criminals in our city.
“Already, a joint operation has begun in the southern region, with an increase in police visibility and 24-hour patrolling services in all sectors across Ekurhuleni.”
Members of the community took advantage of the meeting and posed questions on the issues of their personal safety, such as the right to gun ownership and, most importantly, the SAPS’s response time to calls.
“I have been a resident of Van Dyk Park for more than 20 years and I have seen all sorts of criminal acts that have robbed my family and neighbours of their lives and possessions,” said Van Dyk Park resident Wynand van der Walt, who is also a member of the ECIU and involved with the CPF.
“As a result, it is difficult for me to just sit still and not do something about what I see daily.
“Therefore, I commit to leaving no stone unturned until our neighbourhood is a safe place to live in again.”
Gungubele pleaded with the members of ECIU to make sure that all their crime combating tactics are legal and professional and that all their complaints are logged with the municipality, to ensure that they maintain a good reputation.
“As residents of the same community we must learn to live in harmony with each other, so that we can be a united community,” he said.
“When criminals think of approaching our neighbourhoods, they must know we are a united force.”
The Ekurhuleni task team will meet with the ECIU again, at the beginning of March, to report back.
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