The community of Elsburg came together recently for a meeting to discuss issues affecting the suburb.
The Elsburg SAPS station commander Col Linah Thethe and Ward 39 councillor Alta de Beer were present at the meeting to address community members’ concerns.
The meeting was held in the Elsburg Methodist Church hall.
The community expressed concern about a number of issues, including the scrounge of drugs taking over Elsburg, the move of the Elsburg Police Station to Wadeville, corruption in the police force, unsettled cases and the safety of the community.
Other issues were the state of Voortrekker Road and whether regular raids will be conducted in problem places.
Prince Rulashe, the programme director for the event, kept proceedings running smoothly, and community members addressed their questions to the station commander and ward councillor.
Thethe explained to the community why the police station moved.
“The moving process began years ago after research was done and it was found that the ground the old police station was built on was full of dolomite and not fit for human habitation.
“So it was recommended that we move.
“The process began long ago, and in time a suitable building was found within our policing precinct and we were able to move.
“The new police station is within the prescribed 4km radius so we are accessible to the community.”
She added that the police do battle with resources in the three Elsburg policing district sectors as they are a small station.
“There is one police officer per every 376 community members, that is how small we are,” she said.
With regard to corruption within the police force, Thethe said people must come to her with tangible proof.
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“You must be specific in your complaint, be willing to give a statement and give us evidence like photos and must not generalise as we need to root them out of the organisation,” she said.
“The channel of communication is also very important and the community must follow the correct channels when laying complaints.”
She added that the community must work with the police to make Elsburg a safer place and report crime houses and problems to the police.
With the move, the Elsburg Police Station has also had problems with landline telephone numbers, but these should be operational soon.
The community can make use of the relief commander cellphone number which is 071 675 6894 which will be answered 24 hours a day.
“We must ask ourselves ‘What are we going to do together to stop criminals?’ and work hand in hand,” said Thethe.
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