Check that kit! Randfontein CPF now visible more than ever
Brigadier Jacob Mashole Manamela handed over winter jackets and flashlights to the patrollers on behalf of the community.
The Randfontein Community Policing Forum (CPF) recently received brand-new winter jackets as well as flashlights to ensure the community could recognise them.
CPF operations coordinator Henry Boyce said they paid for the jackets and flashlights with donations from the community.
He explained that flashlights worth R19 000 and jackets worth R39 357 were bought and given to CPF patrollers in Sectors 4 and 5.
“The next challenge is to ensure that everyone has a bulletproof vest,” Henry said.
Randfontein Police station commander Brigadier Mashole Jacob Manamela handed over the nifty jackets and equipment to the patrollers on behalf of the community.
He said he did it to appreciate the transparency that Henry is showing because the money that he had been collecting was not his own, it’s the public’s funds, and it is important that one tells the community, ‘This is what the money you have been contributing is being used for’, so the community can see the result.
“It will make the community trust us in terms of policing because if they don’t have trust then they are not going to participate or contribute. The community must also ask Henry what they need to do in terms of patrolling to assist. We have business people around here who can assist the community in terms of things like jackets and reflectors. It will be really appreciated because it is all about crime prevention, nothing else – no personal gain – it is about the community.”
Manamela said they appreciate the good work the community has been doing, showing the police and CPF great support. He said that support they have all over Randfontein was evident even during the unrest.
As the Randfontein Police they have managed the situation so far, and looters only targeted the spaza shop and Shoprite: Usave in Mohlakeng. The community members are there to protect property and ensure that they keep supporting the police.
“On Tuesday night, when I went all over just to check the situation, I saw CPF cars patrolling along the R28 because there were rumours that some group was mobilising from Zenzele, the new informal settlement, and they intended to loot in Pelzvale, so they were patrolling the R28,” said Manamela.
He said the Taxi Association is also supporting them, and their members are placed strategically at malls to support the police in protecting property.
“I appreciate the active role Henry Boyce plays; I can boldly say he is a man who wants the work to be done. He is physically in the field. I saw patrollers here in the CBD and on the R28, I’m sure there were more than 20 cars protecting the property in the CBD, and I found people in Toekomsrus protecting their properties.
“We as Randfontein are really proud and appreciate the good partnerships we have in communities. The dedication we see from Henry and other patroller coordinators is truly something, they are doing an excellent job.”
He is appealing to the community to join the patrollers and work with coordinators such as Henry.
“We must join the patrol groups to ensure that our properties and our lives are safe. Remember crime doesn’t care whether you are a brigadier, mayor or business person, it affects all of us.”
He explained they don’t want anyone to be a victim of crime and everyone must minimise the opportunity for criminal activities.
“Criminals must feel that there is no space in Randfontein to commit crime. By being the ears and eyes of the police, and also by participating in projects like crime prevention, the community will help crime go down in Randfontein,” he concluded.
