Efforts pay off in Polokwane CBD

POLOKWANE – This follows the initiation of a business association in the CBD aimed at protecting and supporting business owners and shoppers with the help of community policing forums, taxi associations and the police’s tekkie squad.

Chairperson of the Central Business District Business Association, Salman Hamid says their efforts are paying off. “Preventing crime is a collective issue and will not be left to the police alone. Most crimes in the CBD involve pick-pocketing. Over the past week, nine suspects had stolen personal items from their victims.”

He relates one instance in which a young man stole R1 000 from a pensioner. “Luckily, the madala saw him, identified the suspect and reported it to the taxi guys who were able to track him down. He was instructed to give back the money. We eventually took him to the police station.”

Salman says that there were a few cases of theft out of motor vehicles that were caught on surveillance footage from the shops in the CBD.

“If something happens to you and you come to us we are able to use our resources to help you. This footage is made available to the police. After the first few incidents caught on camera we asked business owners to constantly monitor their cameras and help us pick up modes of operation on these criminals. We even noted that it is usually the same group of about four to five men who steal out of people’s cars.”

He says the suspects usually observe when motorists park, to see if there are any items of value in the vehicle, including laptops, cellphones or handbags in full view of those around the vehicle.

“We are confident that for as long as they commit crimes in our area, they will mess up and we will catch them. We even had an incident where a family reported their daughter missing and through the help of all the various stakeholders involved we were able to locate her and return her to her family.”

A complaint was also received from a resident where he alleged that he was sold a stolen laptop from a shop in town and the association attended to the matter.

“When we got there and started asking questions the owner of the shop fled, which as an indication that he was guilty. If the crime involves one of the shop owners we will attend to it in the same manner. Crime is crime, no matter who is responsible for it.”

In the early hours of last Monday a taxi from Mahwelereng was reported stolen and the suspects were said to have driven in the direction of Polokwane. When the matter was brought to the association’s attention, they immediately sent out groups of people to help locate the car. It was later spotted in town and the CPF’s Francois Swart was able to ask for assistance from the police to nab the suspects.

“We managed to get the police, private security services and provincial traffic officers along with the SAPS flying squad and the highway patrol team to assist in flagging down the car. The suspects were caught and are in police custody. A case was opened in Mahwelereng and the suspects were handed over to the police that side.”

Swart says all this was possible cause of the constant communication in the social media groups and the willingness of the security cluster stakeholders to assist. Salman explains that the association has a number of groups on social media where anyone can join and ask for assistance if they witness a crime. Just by taking a picture of the people involved and identifying them the group is able to mobilise the necessary assistance and have the suspects arrested and handed over to the police. He says that they are slowly branching out their patrols to include areas like Westenburg, Seshego and the residential areas in town.

“In Seshego we are working with the Seshego Community Against Crime and Gangsterism organisation who are holding the fort down that side. If we need backup then we call them and vice versa.”

Salman says anyone is free to join the groups and he encourages residents to speak out about any crimes and to report crimes to the police. Police spokesperson brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo confirmed that a citizen’s arrest is a legal action governed by the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act. “Together with the police, a member of the community who witnessed the commission of crime or is convinced that crime is being committed in front of him can effect an arrest. After the arrest he must call the police who will then come and process the remaining procedures such as taking statements from the person who made the arrest and other witnesses at the scene.”

He says that any person aged 18 and above can effect an arrest. “The arrested person must be treated in a humane manner and his or her rights should not be violated. The person must also be informed of the reason behind the arrest. This includes the rights and notice of rights when going to be detained.”

Mojapelo says the police do have a strong partnership with organisations like the CPF, taxi associations and business associations against crime in order to combat crime. He says members of these organisations are well-informed on the roles that they must play and they know that they must not take the law into their own hands.