CPF urges communities to join forces to prevent crime
The CPF is composed of community members
On June 1 Joe Myeni stepped into the Community Policing Forum (CPF) as the new chairperson, taking over from Mxolisi Ntshangase. Myeni was co-opted by the co-ordinator of the CPF, since he works at the Parliamentary office with the Honourable Nosipho Mavuso. He has already launched sub-forums for the CPF within the community of Vryheid.
A CPF is a non-profit organisation that is driven by the community to prevent crime. The progamme is accepted by most community members, even though criminal elements see these community members as ‘police informants’. Nine community members are elected to form a sub-forum that stays in close contact with the police and reports crime. “They are the eyes and ears of the police within the community,” says Myeni. “We need the CPF because the police cannot be everywhere they are needed.
Because the CPF is composed of community members, it is easy for them so see where and when crime is committed in their area.” CPF members are not allowed to act on behalf of the police, other than reporting a crime. “When the police are short of resources, the CPF has to intervene and assist in combating crime; we also assist the SAPS in terms of resources. Not that we provide resources – our intervention is the voice of the community to report crime and also report the shortage of resources. Whatever makes the police unable to execute their duties, we as the CPF must assist.
There are sub-structures under a sub-forum in the form of street committees that can also assist in patrolling and reporting crime.”
Myeni, on behalf of the CPF, has a message for Vryheid: “As the newly-elected chairperson of the CPF, together with my executive team, we plan to establish CPF sub-forums in various areas in and around Vryheid to assist with the combating of crime.
“These sub-forums, under the guidance of the main Executive Committee, will be developing and initiating projects and programmes together with the SAPS to address crime. It is our intention to combine forces to stamp out the crime that is plaguing certain areas of our community.
“Our first task will be to encourage co-operation between the various communities and the SAPS. Community members will voluntarily come forward with information that threatens their safety, especially crimes such as house-breaking, vehicle theft, theft out of motor vehicles, stock theft and others.
“The CPF considers crimes against women and children as unacceptable and, together with the SAPS, we hope to stamp out these crimes and ensure that the complainants are made as comfortable as possible when reporting these crimes. Awareness programmes, together with FCS members, are being looked into so that especially school-going children are made aware of the crimes that may affect them.
“The CPF will also assist in establishing sector policing and street committees – and in so doing, encourage the community to get involved in the combatting of crime.
“Our next task will be to liaise with professional persons like doctors, lawyers, nurses and social workers to assist in the establishing of a trauma centre at the station; and also assist with improving the morale of police members. There professionals will also be requested to assist with the counselling of traumatised victims of crime, especially those who cannot afford their services professionally.
“We will strive to build healthy working relations with all the leaders of society, including traditional leaders, councillors, the business sector and others. All in all, we wish to assist in making our environment as safe as possible, with the highest quality of service delivery.”
Anyone who wants to get involved with the CPF or make a donation can contact Joe Myeni on 083 765 5036.
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