Following the opening of a new Makhaza Police Station, employees hit the ground running to ensure community safety and protection.
The station was opened by the Minister of Police Bheki Cele on Thursday 16 May.
Station commander Col Linda Mangaliso stated that there’s no time to play, they need to put all the hands on deck.
He said his mandate is to serve the community and ensure that they are protected.
Knows the area
“I know this area very well. It was under my supervision as a Sector 2 while I was working at Harare Police Station as the Vispol Commander.
“Most of the community leaders worked with me while I was at Harare station,” said Mangaliso.
He stated that all he needs to do is to build trust with the community.
He said what is crucial for him is community engagement.
He stated that he wants to squeeze the space for criminals. He described his precinct as a crime-ridden area.
“There are a lot of things that are happening in this precinct.
“Japhta K Masemola and Baden Powell are well known for car hijackings. While Ezimfeneni and SST informal settlements are well-known for murders, gender-based violence (GBV) and rape,” he said.
However, he stated there are a lot of crime incidents that are happening in the informal areas. He highlighted that they will also monitor the operation of liquor outlets and the spaza shops.
Mangaliso refused to mention the number of staff members as a safety precaution. He indicated the station has at least 25 vehicles.
“The majority of the staff are coming from Harare Police Station. The rest are coming from different stations but because they are staying closer to Makhaza they decided to come here.
“All of them volunteered to come here. No one holds any position. They are going to apply for positions and be vetted again,” he explained.
Experienced
Mangaliso has a vast experience in the police service.
“I joined the police force in 1993 as a student at Mthatha Police Training Academy in the Eastern Cape. In the following year, I was deployed at Butterworth Police Station until 1998. From 1999 until 2006 I worked at Komani Police Station. At that time, I was an Inspector Officer which is equivalent to a Warrant Officer. In mid-2006, I moved to Philippi Police Training Academy training students until mid-2013.
“I was then transferred to Mthatha Police Training Academy, working as a trainer until 2016,” said Mangaliso, adding that when the academy was closed in 2016, he moved to Hamanskraal police training academy in Gauteng in 2017.
He said in 2018 he got a new post at Kraaifontein Police Station as a Tactical Commander of Crime Prevention until mid-2021 and at that time he was a Captain.
From August 2021, he said he was deployed to the provincial office working in a provincial task team until August 2023.
In September 2023, Mangaliso said he was transferred to Harare Police Station in Khayelitsha working as Vispol Commander until early this month before he took over his new role.
He urged the community to work with them.
He stated that officers alone cannot fight crime they also need the involvement of the community.
