Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene hosted a successful community policing indaba in Gqeberha on Tuesday, 27 February 2024. The main purpose of the indaba was to enhance community policing and to strengthen partnerships between police and the communities.
Stakeholders from various entities provided salient matters that were deliberated upon and discussed during the commissions. Coupled with the challenges, there were very positive solutions that emerged from everyone present. The deliberations and recommendations will form part of a comprehensive plan that will guide the process of refurbishing community policing in the Eastern Cape. The Youth Crime Prevention and Spiritual Crime Prevention members played an integral part in reflecting on the ideal functionality of the CPFs. All relevant stakeholders signed a pledge to enhance community policing with the Department of Transport and Community Safety taking the leading role followed by the relevant stakeholders.
Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene concluded the indaba by adding that, ‘our vibrant private sector is assisting our CPFs in order to build stronger relations between the SAPS and the community. These deliberations that took place are going to form part of our blueprint on the re-establishment of Community Policing Forums. We recognize the vital role that Community Policing Forums (CPFs) play in ensuring the safety and security of our neighbourhoods. Forums such as this serve as a bridge between police and the community, fostering communication, collaboration, and trust. Community policing to here to stay – and we need to find ways to make it work if it is not already working.’