Elsburg CPF chairperson shares a five-year vision
“We can bring the Elsburg Youth Desk back to life if we can build rapport with the young people.”
The recently re-elected Elsburg CPF chairperson outlines his goals for the organisation for the next five years.
On November 8, Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko attended the CPF’s election day.
With Thys Lourens serving as vice chairperson, Margaret Sekul as secretary, Anne-Marie Lourens as deputy secretary, and Pieter Miller as treasurer, Johan Lourens was again voted in as chairperson.
ALSO READ: Gauteng Department of Community Safety boosts local CPF units
In an interview with GCN, Johan outlined the reforms he hopes to put in place during his next five-year term.
Young people are urged to join the community forum to combat crime in the neighbourhood.
“The fact that young people are always in trouble with the law presents the community with its greatest challenges. Our streets are over-run with drug users, and our future leaders are slowly dying,” Johan added.
“Our goal is to gain the community’s trust by demonstrating our commitment to fighting crime together with the SAPS.
“The aim is to gain support from the Buhle Park community for a satellite office.
“We hope to open a CPF branch in Buhle Park, but the residents’ demands for payment are holding up the process. It is not a job. The CPF is a voluntary structure.”
ALSO READ: CPF blames illegal mining for increased murder rate in Primrose
Johan also outlined the accomplishments of the CPF for this year.
”A CPF group we established in Rondebult is operational. Rondebult High School, which was reportedly a challenging school plagued by gangs in the past, is now patrolled regularly.
“We plead with the community to continue supporting us with donations of clothing, food, petrol and cash.
“We continue to feed communities through our soup kitchen programmes. We have soup kitchens in Ramaphosa informal settlement, Tedstoneville, Dukathole, Elsburg and Cruywagen Park,” said Johan.
According to Elsburg SAPS communications officer Constable Daphney Phooko, the SAPS and CPF have collaborated well.
“On the ground, they have served as our eyes and ears. Together, we have worked on several cases that have paid off, particularly in tracking down or recovering stolen vehicles,” said Phooko.
ALSO READ: Chairperson of Primrose CPF warns of online dating apps
“The soup kitchens have helped many people across the Elsburg policing precinct.
“The forum has also become involved when there are roadblocks and high-density patrols.
“Their reflective beams and uniforms make them easily identifiable. We must continue to collaborate and win the community’s support because that is vital if we are to accomplish our visions,” said Phooko.
