A PROVINCIAL task team will be deployed to Empangeni to deal with crime concerns raised by the community at an urgent crime meeting last week.
Chief among these is what residents described as ‘a complete breakdown of confidence in the Empangeni SAPS’.
The first meeting on Monday hosted by Empangeni Neighbourhood Watch (ENW) founder Kathleen Wiborg and with guest speaker Preggy Vandayar, gave rise to a second meeting on Friday, and a visit by MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works Ravi Pillay as well as
Musheni Mnqayi of the Civilian Secretariat for the police service in KZN.
At the meeting the same concerns were condensed and brought before Pillay and Mnqayi.
Both officials declared they would ensure task teams from relevant departments would visit Empangeni under their instruction to conduct assessments, specifically on the SAPS and existing crime prevention structures.
The revival of crime fighting structures was discussed and the importance of organisations like the Crime Prevention Forum was highlighted with regard to effective policing.
While Pillay’s portfolio does not include command protocols for the SAPS, he noted with concern the number of complaints relating to lack of serviceable police vehicles and the alleged misuse of the remaining vehicles as well as the conditions of offices where police work.
‘Mr Mnqayi and I as well as the Councillors will make sure that the municipality, the provincial Department of Community Safety & Liaison – to the extent of their facilitation of tasks, as well as the national department in terms of their control of the actual police station, and the police officers here are brought around the table as soon as possible to put these issues before them and demand responses,’ said Pillay.
‘For the issues that we do not have a solution for immediately, we must come back to you and say this is a tough nut to crack. Let’s put it on the back-burner for now and solve some of the more immediate issues.’
Positive response
Within a week a representative from the Department of Community Safety and Liaison (DCS) came to Empangeni to meet with Vandayar, Wiborg and her committee as well as Empangeni ward councillors.
During the meeting on Tuesday afternoon, it was stressed that the main objective for the involvement of DCS would be do conduct a full assessment on the Empangeni SAPS, to establish the shortfalls and why many feel the SAPS has failed them.
It was also in aid of providing ENW with a way forward that would ensure backing from the department.
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A unanimous decision was taken to submit documents that will place ENW in the position to be certified as a Community Crime Prevention Association (CCPA).
A CCPA works hand-in-hand with DCS, different to a Crime Prevention Forum which works under legislation provided for in the SAPS Act.
It was agreed that a full proposal for the vision of ENW and what needs the organisation has to effectively patrol Empangeni suburbs would be submitted in time for DCS to come back to the next community crime meeting to provide feedback.
‘Our patrol members have for more than a year now been out every night, paying for fuel out of pocket and I run the town WhatsApp groups solely on donations from the community,’ said Wiborg.
‘All my patrol guys have full time jobs, and they volunteer to assist simply because they feel everyone has a right to sleep peacefully at night, knowing that criminals cannot move around as they please.’
The next crime meeting, which will be open to all Empangeni residents, has been scheduled for 4 July at the Empangeni Civic Centre.
For more information on how you can get involved, contact ENW on 071 241 3392.
