A helping hand to the police force
Our policemen can not be everywhere, but that is were these men and women step in.
The Gauteng Department of Community Safety is mandated to ensure the safety and security of residents and property in the province.
Working closely with the SAPS and local communities in identifying crime hotspots and developing area-specific crime prevention initiatives, the Department released a media statement highlighting some of their accomplishments so far.
“Admittedly the road travelled since the dawn of democracy has not been easy in undoing the evils of the past created over centuries in just over a 20-year period.
Nevertheless, we are proud of what the country has accomplished thus far,” says the MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko.
Although the Gauteng Safety Strategy mainly focuses on fighting violence against women and children, combating business and house robberies and ensuring road safety, special attention is also being given to interventions aimed at drug-related crime in certain communities.
Central to the Department’s strategy is the approach that the police cannot be at every corner and that a paradigm shift is needed in order to allow residents to take charge of safety and security issues in their communities.
This has been addressed through the establishment of various safety structures such as community policing forums, community safety forums, men as safety promoters, women’s desks and street committees, all of which have played a part in providing additional support structures for law-abiding residents.
In a joint effort between the Department, the SAPS and the local community, a substance abuse (anti-nyaope) campaign was launched last year. The campaign has led to the establishment of an aftercare programme for recovering addicts.
The aftercare programme not only provides emotional and physical support, but also aims to improve recovering addicts’ chances of finding employment by affording them the opportunity to develop practical skills.
According to a media statement issued by Ms Mazibuko, since the beginning of this year 20 beneficiaries have attended a cosmetology course, five have attended a sound engineering course and a further 20 have undergone computer training.
During the past month 30 beneficiaries attended a driving licence course and five beneficiaries will undergo a social auxiliary programme.
“These successes, minor as they may seem in comparison to the future we desire, have contributed to transformation in Gauteng.
Social crime prevention programmes continue to play a vital role in ensuring that crime prevention measures are in place,” the MEC says.
