Eldorado Park SAPS introduces the new and vibrant Corporate Communication and Media Liaison Officer, Sergeant Fezeka Khobo.
Sergeant Khobo has been with Eldorado Park SAPS for over a decade and she recently started her duties as the Communication Officer.
She stated that her goals are to engage with the community, resolve issues, and try to comprehend the needs and concerns of each sector.
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Sergeant Khobo brings great wealth of experience to the role having started her career in the police service 14 years ago.
She altered that her mission was to facilitate communication among community stakeholders and foster a collaborative effort to identify the causes of crime and develop crime-reduction solutions.
“Through community engagements and programmes, we will address issues in each of the four sectors that we oversee in the Greater Eldorado Park,” Sergeant Khobo said.
She identified lack of knowledge as one of the factors that make residents hesitate to report crime, citing that some people do not know the proper channels to report crime.
Other factors may be trust issues, personal safety, potential retaliation or involvement in legal proceedings.
However, it is important to note that reporting crime is crucial for maintaining public safety ensuring that justice is served, and providing support to victims.
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“The SAPS has realised that crime cannot be fought in isolation, partnership between the community and SAPS is vital to resolve the issues.
“The police’s job in the community is to protect, investigate, and ensure the safety of all members of the public, as well as to collaborate with all of the community’s stakeholders, as we are presently doing,” she added.
“We had effective awareness campaigns on gender-based violence and high assault rates, which are thought to be caused by social ills, such as fighting over SASSA for grant money.
“We have developed Community Policing Forums, Sector Crime Forums, Divine Intervention with Pastors, and collaborated with non-governmental organisations in the region.”
Residents play an important role in combatting crime by reporting all illegal activities to the police, which they may do anonymously.
Khobo said to manage the rise of drugs and hotspots in the area, they have partnered with other law enforcement agencies and units such as JMPD, K9, TRU, Crime Intelligence, Eldorado Park SAPS Tracing Unit, the CPF, Crime Prevention, Sector Crime Forum and NGOs such as SANCA, Eldorado Park Victim Empowerment Centre and Pastor’s divine intervention.
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“We have a 72-hour turnaround strategy to trace and arrest suspects. We also conduct Operation Skoon Maak three times a week to trace wanted suspects alongside the Detective Department. In addition, cameras were installed in Eldorado Park to assist with crime reduction.”
She said environmental design is one of the factors that make it difficult for the police to gain access to the areas like Tjovotjo Informal Settlement, which affects the reaction time.
Poor infrastructure, lack of recreational facilities and high poverty due to unemployment are some of the contributing factors to crime.
Challenges faced by Eldorado Park SAPS
According to Sergeant Khobo, some of the challenges facing the station include community interference in police investigations.
“Cases are reported but later withdrawn, which causes further damage to the police station. This can be due to people refusing to be witnesses or provide information. Another challenge is load-shedding where criminals use the schedule to plan attacks in load-shaded areas,” she said.
She said the police are actively combating crime not only by arresting offenders but referring them to organisations like SANCA and Eldorado Park Victim Empowerment Centre.
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“Hijackings have decreased since January after we arrested a suspect who was believed to be the mastermind behind the Uber hijackings.
“The past two years have recorded a decline in violent crimes, meaning that the Operation Skoon Maak strategy and methodology is working,” she continued.
“I am also proud to mention that between 2022 and 2024, Eldorado Park SAPS has been endorsed as one of the top police stations in recovering illegal firearms, illegal ammunition and drugs.”
Residents are encouraged to form part of the sector crime forum and to attend meetings called by sector managers to get feedback concerning issues of crime.
