New CPF Board to enhance safety in Mpumalanga
11 November 2011
The newly elected provincial Community Police Forum (CPF) board has
told the Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC, Vusi Shongwe
that they will make sure that Mpumalanga is again rated number one in terms of
safety in the country.
Newly appointed CPF Chairperson, Mr Kevin Pillay said this during a
meeting between the MEC and the CPF two weeks after his election to be
chairperson of the provincial structure. Pillay highlighted that they will also
ensure that the relationship between the CPF and stakeholders such as the
private sector and the police is strengthened.
“There is a gap that we need to close between the community and police. We need to educate our communities and encourage them to believe in the police, by so doing, we would have won the war against crime because communities will not keep quiet, but will report incidences of crime and criminals,” said Pillay.
Speaking in the same meeting was MEC Vusi Shongwe who acknowledged the good relationship that has been created by the department, SAPS and the CPF.
Shongwe said that the CPF has a major role in the reduction of crime.
“You are part of the community and they understand you better than anyone, take this opportunity and educate your community members to understand the fight against crime. Encourage them to join policing structures and to be police informers,” said the MEC to the CPF.
He added that in order for the province to maintain the good record of
fighting crime, police must be supported by all stakeholders including the CPF
through taking part in planned police programs and operations.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice was put on the spot light by the CPF. They complained to the MEC that the reason why community members were discouraged to report criminals was that the Justice department took a long time to sentence criminals.
They said that it was one of the reasons why community members usually took the law into their own hands because they believed the police were not doing their work effectively.
In a bid to effectively implement the programmes of the CPF in the
fight against crime, Ms Nontsundu Ndonga announced that a strategic session to
plan and induct the members will be organized by the department and SAPS.
Enquiries:
Joseph Mabuza
Issued by Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and
Liaison
