Douglasdale police and the Department of Community Safety conducted a two-day joint-crime awareness campaign which was led by the MEC for Community Safety, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane from 23 to 24 October.
According to the head of communication at Douglasdale Police Station Captain Mpho Tshetlhane, the campaign started with a talk at Witkoppen Primary School where different stakeholders addressed about 907 learners on different challenges affecting them including issues of respect, sexual assault, bullying, substance abuse, drugs and dangerous weapons.
Attending the talk were members of the Douglasdale police, Parliament Constituency Office, Gauteng Traffic Police, Community Policing Forum (CPF), community patrollers, security companies and neighbourhood watch.
According to Tshetlhane, the campaign continued at a local shopping centre where theft of motor vehicles and theft out of motor vehicles were addressed with community members and pamphlets on prevention were distributed.
“It ended on the corner of William Nicol Drive and Leslie Road which is a hotspot for armed robberies and smash-and-grabs where pamphlets on safety tips were also distributed to motorists and pedestrians.”
Interim public relations officer for the Douglasdale CPF, Freda Boiles, said, “Consistency is an important part of an effective crime-awareness campaign. It was with this in mind that Gauteng Community Safety MEC, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane and her team concluded the second day of her campaign on the corner of William Nicol Drive and Leslie Avenue on Wednesday afternoon.”
She said that Brigadier Samuel Thambo, Douglasdale Police Station Commander; Colonel Moeti Senna, Douglasdale police Vispol Commander; Captain Len Celliers, Sector 4 Commander and various other members of Douglasdale police were in support of the initiative to clamp down on the robberies as well as smash-and-grab incidents taking place along William Nicol Drive.
She added, “The aim of the initiative was to provide a strong presence along this route to safeguard the community and raise awareness as over 1 000 pamphlets were distributed during this campaign.”
Boiles explained that the campaign showed that many motorists were distracted and unaware of their surroundings. “Mobile devices remain a security risk as community members keep their devices as well as valuables in plain sight.”
She concluded that the Douglasdale CPF wished to thank the office of the MEC for all their efforts establishing the campaign and making it a great success. “Thank you to all participants that joined us today and soaked up the sun. Thank you to Night Guard Security for the sponsorship of the pamphlets distributed.”
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