Sophiatown CPF Sector 3 elections a shame

A recent public meeting to try and elect CPF members for Sector 3 in the Sophiatown precinct was attended by one resident.

The hall at the Roosevelt Park Bowling Club was made available and was attended by Sophiatown police and other roleplayers, but seats for the community remained unused.

Gulam Karim, chairperson of the Johannesburg Central Sub-District Community Police Board said, “It is absolutely vital for communities to get involved and work with the police to combat crime and other problems. When there are issues, people tend to complain but don’t want to participate in finding solutions to social ills.”

Despite the meeting being well advertised by word of mouth, on social media and in this paper, it did not yield the desired results.

Thabo Thipe from the Department of Community Safety said, “We note with disappointment the poor turnout of this important meeting. It is of the utmost importance for these forums to thrive in the fight against crime. We are still appealing to the community to avail themselves to take an active role. The police alone won’t be able to stem the scourge of crime. This and other CPF structures are important links that bring the police and the community together.”

Gulam added, “What is required is a small committee to address crime, service delivery and other relevant issues. The area covered by Sector 3 is mostly an affluent area. Despite most residents having private security, we still have crime. It is vital for community involvement as the police and private security companies on their own are faced with challenges daily to reduce crime in our areas. Merely paying for private security is not enough and is no guarantee that we will be safeguarded.”

SCP Security Clive Maher attended the meeting and said, “I know many people in the area complain about crime and say police and private security do not do enough, but it was disheartening to see so much apathy. I hope going forward this might be remedied.”

Sector 3 represents East Town, Montgomery Park, Northcliff Ext 9 and 13, Roosevelt Park, Waterfall Estate, and Westpark Cemetery.

It is not too late to nominate representatives who can be co-opted onto the Sector 3 committee with at least two representing each suburb.

The vacancies are:

• Chairperson
• Deputy chairperson
• Secretary
• Deputy secretary
• Treasurer
• Public relations officer
• Four more members without portfolio.

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