Brixton police protect the leaders of tomorrow

The Brixton Police Station commander, Colonel Mkhacani Maluleke, believes that as a police officer, he has to protect the next generation of leaders.

Maluleke is passionate about the youth and takes very seriously the fact that he has a university and various student accommodation buildings in his policing area.

On 28 February, Maluleke once again took to the streets of his policing area with his officers as well as Alert Security and Armed Response Services (Asars), Delta Tactical and Bright Angel Security companies.

He visited student accommodation blocks and houses to inspect the level of security each of them has.

“Some of these places don’t even have security. They are risking students’ lives. These places must have security – must!” he said.

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Maluleke explained that many student-accommodation owners just collect rent and do not provide security to students, which is what leads to students becoming soft targets.

Brixton police spokesperson, Jeanette Backhoff, took it a step further and suggested students be supplied with panic buttons on their keys for added security.

Maluleke said the onus is not only on accommodation owners but on parents as well.

“Parents need to inspect where their children are living to make sure it is safe enough for them to live in. We have parents who don’t know where their kids are living,” he explained.

The Brixton police not only visited student homes with security officers but also with a representative from the Gauteng Department of Community Safety, Muzi Dumakude, to bring the matter to their attention.

“These kids are our future and we need to look after the future,” he said.

He said while they are prioritising student safety, he urges students to be vigilant and play their part in making their environment safe, such as not having wild parties and getting drunk beyond what is safe.