WARD councillors in the North Eastern area have expressed both satisfaction and disappointment with the Joburg 10 Plus initiative.
Launched in July 2012, it aims to have ward-based visible law enforcement focusing on bylaws and municipal matters.
Ward 72 councillor Steven Kruger explained that the programme was not just a Metro policing project. He said the effectiveness of the law enforcement aspect of the programme depended on the relationship with the ward Sergeant.
“In my ward, our sergeant responds to specific queries in an effective manner. For example, issues such as illegal panel beaters and motor repairs have been investigated and dealt with effectively,” he said. “However, issues like illegal dumping are still a problem , as often the dumping takes place at night or over weekends. By the time the Metro Response Centre dispatches a team, the people have disappeared, and no department then takes responsibility to clean up the illegal dumping.”
He attributed one of the weaknesses of the present system to no Metro vehicles patrolling the area, which can’t be contacted immediately or respond quickly.
Kruger felt that the programme seemed to be “reactive, rather than proactive”: instead of departments waiting for problems to be reported, they should be identified in the first place.
Ward 73 councillor Marcelle Ravid, said that the initiative should “work exceptionally well”, but in reality some departments, such as the Town Planning Departments of Law Enforcement and the Building Inspectorate, are under-capacitated.
“hot-spots” needed to be inspected daily and enforcement of the by-laws must be “paramount”
She said that “hot-spots” needed to be inspected daily and enforcement of the by-laws must be “paramount”. According to Ravid, if problems are resolved quickly, and council departments started working together, the chance for success is clear.
Ward 32 councillor Darren Bergman, labelled the initiative a “lucky packet”, as he believed its failure was in its inconsistency. Although he said he had a good relationship with the sergeant in his ward, he knew this wasn’t the case in other areas. He also said municipal co-operation was lacking. “It’s nowhere near the plan,” he added.
Ward 74 councillor Jack Cooper said his experience was limited. “I know the commander of the squad for my ward but I have no idea what Metro police actually do,” said Cooper. He said he logged complaints with the relevant departments but once that was done, he had no knowledge of what happened after that. “I never receive reports, or details of planned operations or what areas are being covered.”
Metro police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar has requested that ward councillors contact their Metro police Regional Director to facilitate a meeting with the officers in their wards. He added that resources are problematic, as some areas have dense populations – with greater challenges.
Details: Metro Response Centre 011-758-9622/4
