In what has been described as a turning point in a community grappling with violent crime, high levels of Gender Based Violence (GBV) alcohol and drug abuse, residents of Khayelistha are forging stronger ties with law enforcement to keep their community safe. The community policing structures in the Cape Town Township, have called on the provincial and national government for more support to do their work.
This appeal was echoed during a crime Imbizo hosted by the Khayelistha Development Forum, which saw the Police Minister, General Bheki Cele and his Deputy Cassel Mathale and the management of the South African Police Service (SAPS) led by the National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola along with non-profit organisations (NGOs) councillors, representatives of traditional and religious fraternity, safety experts and stakeholders from the Western Cape province, engage residents on safety and security issues. Also in attendance, the MEC of Community Safety in the province, Regan Allen and officials from the department and provincial government.
The engagement with this community, aimed at revitalising community policing through empowering of the local CPF, neighbourhood watch, community patrollers and other interested stakeholders; also served as a platform for the provincial and national government to update the community of the work in progress to address their safety needs.
Responding to the calls by the Khayelistha community to improve policing in the area, Minister Cele revealed that the SAPS in the province is shifting resources to tackle crime.
“We are moving resources from where they least needed to where they are needed most in this province, this is why 80 officers have now been shifted from more affluent areas where crime is under control or in some instances non-existent and moved to high priority stations such as Khayelitsha. We believe this shift will assist heavily in proactive and reactive policing.”
Minister Cele says the assistance of community patrollers, CPFs and neighbourhood watches must be ramped up urgently.
“It doesn’t make sense why these foot soldiers must use their own airtime and own resources to help fight crime. It simply can’t be the norm and this is why I have called on the National Commissioner to look at funding these structures so they can be effective in their work.”
In the interim, Western Cape Community Safety MEC Reagan Allen, has committed to providing the much needed resources to the community policing structures.
“We won’t be able to make this province safer without the neighbourhood watches, community patrollers and other community structures that play an active role in safeguarding their communities, even with the little they have… as local government we are committing ourselves to ramping up our support by providing extra reflective jackets and boots used during patrolling, we believe this will go a long way in the everyday work of the these community structures.”
National Commissioner, General Masemola updated the community on the plans to build an additional police station to service the growing community.
Construction of the station will begin in November.
The provision of stipends for community policing structures across the country, is currently under consideration by the management of the SAPS and other concerned stakeholders.
Source: South African Police Service