Douglasdale Community Policing Forum (CPF) and members of the police and the Metro police hosted a community meeting at Indaba Hotel on April 6.
Colonel Moeti Senna revealed the crime stats in the Douglasdale sectors and the likely days and hours that the crimes would take place.
Ward 94 councillor David Foley was one of the evening’s attendees who spoke to community members about the crucial role they played in reporting service delivery issues and being part of the CPF.
“We really need more people to join [the CPF]. It’s easy to go on social media and complain and say bad things about people. In the presentations done this evening, they are topical issues that burn us every day.
“We need to work as a community to support the police and Metro police and what they do. The law is very important to know and understand as that is what keeps certain governance and regulations in place so that everything stays in order,” he said.
He added that the community could continue to be involved in the removal of illegal advertising signs and assisting with the cutting of grass in certain areas.
Metro police officers also joined in the discussion and spoke of how to keep safe on the roads as well as address concerns of community members on keeping safe at night during roadblocks. They also addressed queries of illegal traders on various streets.
Lizzy Mabena, chairperson of the CPF said there were a number of issues brought up by the community that would be addressed including cable theft and illegal dumping.
“The illegal dumping issues cause serious environmental problems and it is happening on a large scale. We need to look at why this is happening at an increased rate, especially in Kya Sands.
“With the cable theft, it also needs serious attention. It is problematic to ratepayers as some are left for hours in the dark, and sometimes even days. Eskom and City Power need to intervene but we would maybe like to have City Power sit with us in a community meeting in the future,” she said.
She echoed Foley’s statements that more members of the community needed to take part in CPF and various other community entity meetings.
The next meeting will be hosted on July 6 with more information to come in due course.
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