Neighbourhood watch group and community policing forum impressed with the changes that have come with new police station commander.
Residents of Sophiatown and Westdene are starting to see that a new broom sweeps clean. This comes after the new Sophiatown Police Station Commander, Brigadier Alfred Ndebele, accepted an invite from the Sophiatown Neighbourhood Watch (SNW) and Sophiatown Community Policing Forum (CPF) to see what some of the communities’ safety and security issues are. They met in the afternoon of 26 June and took a tour of the area to identify problems that have been facing them for years.
Dauw Steyn, chairperson of the SNW, stated that they know that the new station commander will bring his A-Game to the policing precinct. “He has proven his efficiency at the previous station where he was in charge and we would not want anything less than an effective policing, bringing down crime in general and to target our youth to make a difference in the way our laws are seen.”
Steyn added that the SNW and residents association will work closely with Ndebele to ensure that all doors leading to criminal activity are closed shut.
Tilly Michaels, chairperson of the Sophiatown CPF, also shared her excitement with the changes coming to the area’s policing efforts. “We have so much confidence in the new station. He came to us and asked us to show him what the issues in the community are because we live and work in the area. He told us he will follow our command.”
Michaels continued to applaud Ndebele by saying he is a leader that listens to others, follows up on matters and communicates feedback.
Michaels, like others in the area, feels that change is coming. “I truly do think we are going to see changes in the community.”
Both the SNW and CPF have pledged their support to Ndebele and urge residents and businesses to do the same in order to reduce crime.
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