On Wednesday, November 30 Florida CPF held their annual crime summit at Donavon McDonald Old Age Home Hall where members of the community had a platform to explore tangible solutions to the increasing problem of crime in Florida area.
The gathering was not another community meeting but rather a gathering of concerned residents who either are victims of crime, or residents who live in fear of being victims of crime.
Participants to the summit included representatives from the community of Florida policing area, Florida Police Management, Department of Community Safety, Sector Crime Forum, Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), Victim Support and Woman’s Forum, Neighbourhood Watch and Block Watch, Ward Councillors and Ward Committee Members, City Power and Security Companies.
“I welcome the open and honest engagement that took place last night and I trust that this process will unite the community in their fight against crime and grime across the ward.
“I look forward to the follow up engagement in January 2023 and I am hopeful that progress would have already been made by then,” Ward 70 Councillor Caleb Finn.
A representative from the Department of Community Safety, Thabo Thipe told the meeting that the department will work together with the CPF for a way forward and discuss issues that are an impact on crime.
Florida Station Commander, Colonel Amos Tsotetsi gave an overview of the crime statistics in the Florida area and explained the Community Orientated Strategy of the station.
Issues affecting the community were discussed and community members asked probing questions as they expressed their disappointment and frustration on the crime situation in Florida.
Tsotetsi responded by explaining the purpose of the crime summit and encouraged residents to continue to hold the police accountable.
“Let us come together and drive crime out of our neighbourhood, “said Tsotetsi.
A Maraisburg resident, who was present at the meeting, raised the issue of active drug dealers in the area and alleged that Capetonian dealers are operating in the area without the fear of being arrested.
“This is terrible as it is the root cause of all the cable theft and the vandalising of City Power infrastructure that is happening in our area,” said the concerned resident.
Residents of the Donavon McDonald Old Age Home also saw the opportunity to raise their own problems within the facility where parents are allowing their children to occupy the units that are meant for the elderly.
“We have people that are we know of that are selling flats at the home,” said one concerned resident of the facility.
Florida CPF Chairperson Farhaad Sardiwalla said that the crime summit was a success and the CPF would like to thank the community and the Stakeholders for attending the summit.
“The Commissions derived from this summit will be escalated to the relevant authorities and feedback will be provided on or before the next summit.
The CPF would like to urge the community to attend the next summit on the January 28 next year and voice their problems and issues.
The location will be advised as the summit will be held in different parts of the Florida policing area.
“The CPF humbly urges all community members to report crime and open cases at the Florida station as these effects the allocation for resources to the Florida police station,” explained Sardiwalla.
Ward 84 Councillor Johannes Goosen said that crime in this country will not be addressed by Crime Summits but by decisive crime prevention strategies and operations that bring about arrests and prosecutions.
“Doctored crime stats for the sake of creating impressions that police is actively involved in their core mandate of dealing with crime is laughable to say the least.
“Deeply rooted corruption, disinterested officers of law and no will to have meaningful interventions will result in stats reporting but no real time results.
“Criminals are protected by the very institutions meant to arrest and prosecute them, these engagements have very little to no value,” said Goosen.
Should any community member experience difficulty in opening a case or reporting crime, they are advised to call Colonel Tsoetsi on 079 034 4195 or the Florida CPF Chairperson Farhaad Sardiwalla on 084 963 1786.
