The Alex Community Police Forum has commended the minister of community safety for taking a hard stance which presumably resuscitated the floundering partnership between the forum and the police.
At a recent meeting of the Alexandra Policing Cluster, which includes Sandton, Bramley, Sandringham and Bramley, MEC Sizakele Nkosi Malobane lashed out at the lack of police visibility and alleged collusion of police with criminals as contributing to soaring crime and the public’s hesitance to report crime for fear of reprisals. She ordered the immediate deployment of uniformed and non-uniformed police to hot spots along Vincent Tshabalala Road and Lenin Drive, at the Gautrain’s Marlboro Station and for them to set up speed traps at strategic points. Also, she instructed for the revival of their partnership with the forum as a statutory responsibility.
The forum chairperson Bulldog Rathokolo said the minister’s order has made police more visible and this will help curb crime which tends to escalate during the festive season. He said police vehicles are now deployed for 24 hours in the four sectors and the forum patrollers are accompanied by police officers to enforce or effect arrests where necessary.
Rathokolo added that provincial police leadership also assisted by releasing other resources to make this possible. “Although still working without stipends, the patrollers’ motivation has improved knowing that they have the backing of the police who enhance their own personal security during patrols.” Rathokolo also stated that they were intensifying the enforcement of bylaws on noise pollution especially from taverns which have been warned to comply with the law. “This is done in the interest of the greater public and those who need good sleep before going to work in the morning. The law requires that noise levels be reduced from 10pm and be completely shut down by midnight and for the taverns to close at 2am.” He stressed that those found transgressing will have their music sets confiscated and be charged accordingly by the court.
