Newly elected CPF board inaugurated

The old Community Policing Forum (CPF) Board was greeted in style and the new board inaugurated and welcomed at a function in Polokwane on Friday.
A message was delivered by the Provincial Police Commissioner, Nneke Ledwaba, followed by the keynote speech by MEC Mapula Mokaba-Phukwana.
Ledwaba instructed investigation officers to attend meetings between the CPF and communities to give feedback about cases.
Mokaba-Phukwana welcomed the fact that Cabinet has permitted crime statistics to be released every quarter, as this will keep people informed and Police on their toes. She said Police work in tough times and their work was dangerous.” Criminals are taking advantage of our young democracy. They use service delivery protests to test our new democracy. We are celebrating youth month but in some cases our youth are taking drugs and substance abuse is taking over our youth’s future. Crime leaves our youth helpless and hopeless they are doing the youth of 1976 a disservice,”
She said in some cases people are hiding criminals in their houses but community members should know that criminals are in the minority. “They cannot rule our lives.” She urged Police and Traffic Officials, the CPF and Community Safety Forums to work together: “Crime is the responsibility of all of us.”
She congratulated the new Board and assured them she was always available.
The CPF is legislated through the SAPS Act 68 of 1995 as the only consultative forum designed to allow communities to make their concerns known to the police and closing the gap and harmonise relations between the Police and the communities in the fight against crime and improve relations between Police officers and the communities they serve. The aim is also to promote accountability of the Police and to enlist cooperation of communities with the Police to reduce crime and improve service delivery and nation building by ensuring peace, love and harmony across communities.
The board comprises Moope Frans Kgasago, Chairperson, TD Mudau, Deputy Chairperson, Bruce Mashaba, Secretary, Tinyeko Mashimbye, Deputy Secretary, Samson Mphilo, Public Relations Officer, Manothi Letsoalo, Treasurer and Nancy Ramohlale, Additional Member. Kgasago said the members of the board had a lot of experience in community policing and he pledged the board will be working hard and do what is expected from them. He said communities have the right to be protected, but they also have restrictions and responsibilities and children have rights to go to school. Kgasago said they will be the hands and eyes of the Police and promised: “We can change Limpopo and make it a better place for all of us.”

Story: NELIE ERASMUS
>>nelie.observer@gmail.com

Photos: Left: The incoming chairperson of the Community Policing Forum (CPF), Moope Frans Kgasago. The new CPF board was inaugurated on Friday. Middle: MEC for Transport, Safety, Security and Liaison, Mapula Mokaba-Phukwana delivers the keynote address at the inauguration of the new CPF board. Right: Provincial Police Commissioner Nneke Ledwaba.