STERKSPRUIT – Shibane Stadium, Sterkspruit was packed to rafters by community members who came to support and witness the Provincial launch of the Community Policing Strategy today, 21 June 2019.
This launch followed after a national launch that was held last year and is expected to be cascaded down to all the 21 clusters and 196 police stations in the province.
The CPF Board chairperson, Mr Glen Gqwetha outlined the purpose of the day saying, “As president Ramaphosa said yesterday in his State of the Nation Address, ‘we must stop talking and start doing’.
We are here to launch a strategy for community policing in a new era and new dawn.”
This strategy emanates from community Policing concept while coinciding with democratic advent. It calls for greater collaboration between community and police.
He further said patrollers will be identified, recruited to will patrol for 24 hours in various communities.
“This is aimed at enhancing visibility and 24 hours patrol emphasized Mr Gqwetha. We are here to launch this strategy today. We also aim to cascade it to clusters and stations,” he reaffirmed.
The Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Ntshinga outled the purpose of the day saying we have chosen Sterkspruit to launch this strategy and enhance community involvement. She also said the strategy is aimed at improving structured community participation.
The Provincial Board chairpersons were instructed to launch this strategy. Meetings were held to develop an implementation plan and align it with Provincial priorities recalled, Lt Gen Ntshinga.
She further outlined that this plan will focus on the following:
1. Contact crime like murder, rape and robbery.
2. Property crime like stock theft and house robbery.
3. Contact related crimes like malicious damage to property – especially during service delivery protest action.
“We don’t want violence ridden and destructive strikes anymore and this strategy is aimed at addressing exactly that,” added Lt Gen Ntshinga.
The plan also aims to:-
1. Ensure community outreach, education and awareness.
2. To build community resilience to crime.
3. Enhance community policing and public order.
4. Strengthen communication and marketing.
5. Build capacity, capability and resource CPFs.
Our intention in this partnership is to focus on reaching communities with limited access to policing events emphasized Lt Gen Ntshinga.
“In this process we build focused and structured engagement with local governments and ensure participation in IDP process. Even though the Community Policing Forum is leading, the initiative is community based,” she added.
She further commended support and collaboration with a local horse riding team who will be trained to patrol and assist in crime fighting efforts.
Messages of support were delivered by other government departments, Junior Management Core and the Junior Provincial Commissioner.
Acting HOD of the Department of Safety Transport and Liaison, Mr Zukile Kani delivered the keynote address and accepted the Provincial Community Policing Strategy on behalf of MEC Ms Tikana. #PartnershipPolicing
