Darkness and lack of proper roads, are some of the factors contributing to crime in Khayelitsha.
This emerged during an Imbizo held at Desmond Tutu Hall in Makhaza on Monday 18 July.
The Imbizo was called by the Khayelitsha Development Forum (KDF) and was attended by Minister of Police Bheki Cele and his deputy, Cassel Mathale.
The engagement was aimed at revitalising community policing through the empowerment of the local CPF, neighbourhood watch, community patrollers and other interested stakeholders. It also served as a platform for the provincial and national government to update the community on the progress made in addressing crime.
Responding to the calls by the Khayelitsha community to improve policing in the area, Cele revealed that the South African Police Services (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,” he said.
Cele called for the assistance of community patrollers, CPFs and neighbourhood watches to be urgently ramped up.
“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,” said Cele, to loud cheers
Reagan Allen, Western Cape Community Safety Minister, also 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,” he said.
Allen said he believe this will go a long way in the everyday work of these community structures.
KDF chair Ndithini Tyhido said the Imbizo was different to others as it was planned to respond to mass shootings in the community.
“We need to look at issues of policing the area without creating an army or militarising this community. Darkness and poor state of roads also have a negative impact on issues of crime and those factors need to be looked into,” said Tyhido.
National Commissioner, Gen Fannie Masemola updated the community on the plans to build an additional police station. 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 police and other concerned stakeholders.