- Community policing forums in the Western Cape fear for the safety of their members.
- Last year, saw the assassination of a prominent CPF member in Gugulethu, Lulama Guffy Dinginto, creating uncertainty over the future of CPFs.
- A 35-year-old man has since been arrested in connection with the murder and is due to appear again in court on Thursday 22 February.
“It’s difficult to do our job. Our members are seen as the targets by the criminals,” remarked a despondent Fransina Lukas, amid heightened fears and anxiety among community policing forum (CPF) members in the province.
The chair of the Western Cape Community Policing Forum was commenting on the challenges facing CPFs of various communities in the province.
Last year, saw the assassination of a prominent CPF member in Gugulethu, Lulama Guffy Dinginto (“Residents on tenterhooks” City Vision 14 December 2023), creating uncertainty over the future of CPFs.
A 35-year-old man has since been arrested in connection with the murder and is due to appear again in court on Thursday 22 February.
Lukas cautioned members to be vigilant and not to be deterred. “I always advise our members to be vigilant all the time,” she warned.
She expressed dissatisfaction over the police’s handling of murder cases, particularly those related to their members.
“There is progress in some cases as we saw there was a person arrested in connection with the killing of Gugulethu CPF deputy chair Lulama Guffy Dinginto. But there are cases where we didn’t hear anything and we are expecting for the officers to search and arrest the culprits,” she explained.
Lukas highlighted the shortage of equipment for CPF and neighbourhood watch members as a hinderance in the fight against crime.
“There is equipment that is available which includes jackets, torches, bibs, boots etc. Some of the members already received their equipment others are still going to get it soon. Even though sometimes not all the members in a team get it, but, we are trying so hard to equip them,” she stated, adding that these affected the moral of the members. However, she appealed to people to join crime fighting structures such the NHW and CPF. She described CPF’s obligation as to work closely with the police to curb crime.
Marcellino Martin, the spokesperson for the Western Cape Minister of Community Safety and Police Oversight, Reagan Allen, said outlined the department’s mandate in relation to CPFs as to support their functionality to promote good relations between the community and officers.
“CPF member’s mandate is set out in section 18 (1) of the Police Act. It does not include patrolling. Their duties in terms of legislation are: (a)establishing and maintaining a partnership between the community and the Service, promoting communication between the service and the community, promoting cooperation between the Service and the community in fulfilling, the needs of the community regarding policing, improving the rendering of police services to the community at national, provincial, area and local levels. Improving transparency in the service and accountability of the service to the community, and promoting joint problem identification and problem-solving by the Service and the community,” he explained.
Martin said NHW members, however, patrol the areas in which they live on a voluntary basis. He said they receive basic training, resources and qualify to access project funding from the department upon accreditation.
“During the training, it is pointed out to them that they should not place themselves in danger. If they feel unsafe, they should withdraw and contact officers for assistance,” explained Martin.
The City’s mayco member for Safety and Security JP Smith said the City provides various equipment and training to NWs through the NW Support Programme. He said the Neighbourhood Watch Support Programme is a well-established initiative within the City’s Safety and Security Directorate.
Smith said each year, the programme facilitates training and equipment for dozens of accredited NWs around the metropole.
“These interventions are funded through a combination of directorate budget and ward allocations. During the previous financial year, the Safety and Security Directorate allocated just under R5,7 million.
“Last year, for the first time, First Aid training has been incorporated with selected members of NWs in Khayelitsha, Delft, Atlantis and Hanover Park participating in the sessions,” explained Smith.
He said that other interventions that have expanded as part of the NW support programme included the establishment of a radio communications network for NWs to access, crime prevention initiatives between NWs and the City, like the removal of illegal graffiti and a street numbering project, the establishment of a Neighbourhood Watch Disaster Risk Management Initiative, the establishment of community safety hubs, which provide office and meeting space for NWs and other organisations and the appointment of dedicated City Community Safety Liason Officers deployed to the four geographical areas and who serve as a contact point between NWs and the City. Smith said the current budget amounts to R7 216 000 for the 2023/24 financial year which includes ward allocation funding.