New CPF has big plans to tackle crime in Sunnyside
“To have a strong community safety plan, we need the community’s input.”
The Sunnyside CPF is planning on updating its existing safety plan for the area, according to its newly re-elected chairperson Sandile Dube.
“The community wasn’t consulted during its formulation,” he said.
“This time we will go to the community and make note of their suggestions and views about the crimes affecting them the most in the area.”
According to Dube, the community would be reached through meetings organised by sector forums and ward councillors.
“To have a strong community safety plan, we need the community’s input.”
He said the plan would also be informed by information from the police.
“For example, if the community feels that drugs are a problem in the area, we will focus our campaigns on fighting against drugs.”
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He said they would also need info from the police about the three top crimes in the area for them to focus their campaigns on those crimes.
Other relevant stakeholders included the local youths, youth crime prevention and various forums for business, religious leaders and caretakers.
Dube was speaking to Rekord only a week after the new Sunnyside CPF committee was elected.
“We have to ensure we play a meaningful role with all our relevant stakeholders to improve the safety of our community,” he said.
“The first thing for us to do now is to hold induction training to ensure that all committee members had the same understanding of what is expected of them.”
He said many shortcomings had been experienced in the past because of a lack of induction training.
This was often a result of CPF members being replaced by new members who unfortunately did not have the necessary experience or knowledge related to the duties of the various CPF structures.
“We need to train our members on, among other things, the CPF’s constitution.”
This would prevent situations where CPF members, for example, cross the line to do the police’s work.
“This was not allowed.”
He believed that 11 years of experience in CPF structures, along with his fellow committee’s dedication and knowledge, would help the CFP to excel in serving the community.
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