Rosebank CPF hosts first meeting for 2016

With this year in full swing for most companies and communities, Costa Qually, chairperson of the Rosebank Community Policing Forum (CPF) wished everybody well for the year ahead at the first CPF meeting of the year held at Rosebank Police Station.

Key role players in the Rosebank community were in attendance and raised some of their concerns.

Tessa Turvey, a community member, raised her concerns about Fernhead Park where vagrants and drug dealers allegedly congregate. According to Park, this occurs at 4pm every day and became very bad over the December period.

Rosebank Police Station commander, Lieutenant Colonel Logan Govender advised that he has asked his crime prevention unit to drive around the park to monitor the situation. “We [Rosebank police] are aware of the current situation and will address it with urgency,” he said.

A sergeant at Rosebank Police Station has been appointed by Govender to conduct an operation with Metro police and City Parks once a week in an attempt to remove vagrants, along with their equipment and belongings. He added that while there was a problem with drugs in the area, there had been a breakthrough when Metro police made four drug-related arrests recently.

Emphasis on the Immigration Act was discussed as the arrest of an immigrant can be a long process, according to Govender. “Once an immigrant is arrested, he or she has to remain in our [prison] cells and cannot be released by us, only internal affairs can release them. This can take a while.”

Govender advised that Rosebank police officers’ work with security companies in the area in the fight against crime is going well. “We have asked them to rotate their guards so there are no patterns and crooks cannot get friendly with them. This has proven to work very well as the housebreaking stats have decreased.”

Metro police raised the recurring issue of illegal taxi parking on Jan Smuts Avenue, however, they said they are still patrolling the area and are addressing the issue to stop the mini taxi rank which is allegedly developing illegally.

Another concern raised by Ward Councillor 117, Tim Truluck was the theft of cables, and circuit breakers which are stolen to make Nyaope. “We [the community] need to keep an eye on the substations in our area and make sure they are locked and are in decent repair. Please send me reports and I will take it up with City Power directly,” urged Truluck.

Community members are encouraged to attend the meetings held every second Thursday of each month at Rosebank Police Station at 5pm.

Details: Rosebank Police Station 011 778 4700.