“Crime Prevention Wardens’ (CPW) safety hangs in the balance”
"They ride in fast cars without bulletproofs, unarmed and unable to control a crime scene. They can’t even write a simple statement or complete a docket if needs be.”
SEDIBENG. – Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi is playing politics with the desperation of unemployed young men and women in Gauteng.
This is the belief of Build One South Africa (BOSA) Sedibeng Chairperson, Butiki Nkopane who said that proper procedures were not followed by Lesufi in terms of complying with specific requirements before implementing his pledge to create jobs for the youth in Gauteng including the Crime Prevention Wardens (CPW’s)
Nkopane said that it is only recently that Lesufi has been busy with the compilation and submission of documentation necessary to finally comply, adding that what creates a panic is the misalignment of a mandate for the CPWs and how not ready they are for the streets they ought to patrol, even though they underwent basic training.
“For some reason, one assumes that after obtaining basic training, the CPWs are well equipped theoretically, physically fit, mentally sharp, and fit for the purpose, but only to refer to the contrary. The disappointment experienced on the streets when duty calls, leaves much to be desired, and without attacking any of the CPWs, I can only suggest that our safety and that of their own ‘hangs in the balance’.”
Nkopane further said that it doesn’t make sense to deploy an ‘unarmed’ CPW officer to deal with crime and lawlessness to maintain peace and stability, while they face the potential to clash with heavily armed and heartless criminals out there, who have proven that even well trained and fully armed and protected police officers, find their tasks challenging, when faced with criminals.
“There are many issues that can be raised as far as CPWs are concerned and among others, it is an issue of adequate skills necessary required to perform and do well on the streets, instead of being middlemen and women (to call police) though they ride in fast cars without bulletproofs, unarmed and unable to control a crime scene. They can’t even write a simple statement or complete a docket if needs be.”
In retrospect, Nkopane urged the community members to respect and work together with the CPWs against criminals that seek to undermine the law within the society, while demanding that Lesufi, “do the right thing and arm the Crime Prevention Wardens before festive.”
