As Sector 1 Crime Policing Forum, we strongly and democratically believe that the community should involve themselves as role-players and become part of the effectiveness of policing, together with the police department.
The involvement and engagement of all community members, Civil Society, NGO’s, NPO’s, religious organisations, businesses, social development, youth, women etc., and all other institutions, should fully suffice. Although the community has the right to know how functional the police is, what are the actions and what are the solutions?
“We really want to thank and appreciate the availability of Moffatview SAPS under the leadership of Col. Khoza and his team,” from JMPD Region 9 sent by Sup Mojela. Furthermore, we need to be reminded that the community themselves has the responsibility to share and assist the local police with any vital information regarding crime and perpetration.
We are very disappointed about the poor turnout of the community at the public meeting, which was held at the WH Coetzer Primary School on Thursday January 30. Our obligation is to create awareness and a platform between the community and the SAPS. It was an opportunity to voice our different opinions and share the ideas that would help each other in finding solutions. We are receiving a lot of complaints from the public, despite having high walls, electric fences and security companies cannot guarantee us safety and security in and around our environment.
It is high time that the people should stand up and be counted in this battle against crime. Only human power, especially when we are united and working alongside the police, will be able to eradicate and combat crime. We recognise the challenge within our sector being a multi-diverse society, and it won’t be simple for programs such as ‘Know your Neighbour Campaign’, but let us draw an inspirational word from the late icon Nelson Mandela when he said, “It seems impossible up until it is done”.
Our sector is the biggest at the SAPS Station level, and it’s the one bleeding factor concerning crime within our surrounding areas. Eighty per cent of the crime denoted within our Sector is under the control of the Moffatview Police Station.
We are appealing to the councillors to take positive advantage of forums like this to work with us. We are not favouring anybody, the fundamental issue is directed to the community and we believe that being the public servants and ex-officials of Sector Executive Committees, they should place more emphasis on assisting in the sectors.
A warm thank you to those that attended the public meeting.
The Sector 1 public meeting is now duly postponed to Thursday February 13 at 18:30, WH Coetzer Primary School, Edgecombe Road, The Hill. Our heartiest appeal, please avail yourself, it’s important to be present.
Justice Mogotlane, Sector 1 Chairperson
