In Alexandra, even learners are crime-busters

By Tendai Dhliwayo

THE Alexandra Community Policing Forum (CPF) has made great strides towards making the community safer for its residents and visitors.

By working closely with the Alexandra police, the Alexandra CPF has kept criminal activities under control. Residents, including learners, are working jointly with the CPF and the police in a crime-fighting partnership.

"Serious crime in Alexandra has stabilised. We are making sure that crime does not escalate," says Thomas Sithole, the forum's chairperson.

One of the more successful moves has been addressing problems at shebeens and getting rid of illegal ones. Special operations with the police have resulted in the confiscation of illegal firearms. According to Sithole, this has resulted in a reduction of crimes like rape and murder. But, he says, petty crime is still rampant.

Sector policing in the area has helped combat crime. A vehicle has been assigned to each sector of the area for quick response when the need arises.

A programme called Letsiba has also contributed to the successes of the Alexandra CPF. Patrol groups, comprising community members and the neighbourhood watch, monitor the area day and night.

The policing forum has established monitoring forums and ward committees that make sure the police are delivering - while making it easier for police to deliver by helping officers with information about areas to concentrate on.

To ensure that its mission is well executed, the forum has added to its list of committees, the communication forum. This will be a link between the community and the police and it will further help to bridge the gap between the two.

The communication forum will try to reach a wider audience by means of newsletters. The Alexandra community radio station, Alex FM, as well as the community newspaper are being used by the forum to engage the residents on issues pertaining to crime in Alexandra.

Meanwhile, a school policing forum has been launched to enable learners to report criminal activities at their schools and in the community to the police. The school policing forum is also intended to create rapport between learners and the police.

"We are conscientising learners about crime. They find it difficult to associate with the police. We want to discourage that. Learners should see the police as friends and parents," says Captain Shirelele William Mboweni of the Alexandra police station.

A body of student leaders, teachers and the police, has been set up and these meet regularly at the police station to address crime issues.

According to Mboweni, the initiative is helping the community as learners now come frequently to the police station to report crime. He says crimes like illegal firearm possession, burglaries and dagga possession are still prevalent in Alexandra. By working with learners, he adds, the police are hoping to get more information on such activities.

Soon to follow is the Adopt-A-Cop initiative. This allows the police to deal directly with schools such that if learners do have any problems or any information regarding crime, they will directly contact the officers assigned to their school.

Sithole says the resources to bring down crime are there - and hence, delivering is an obligation.

For more information, contact Thomas Sithole on 082-766-2067 or Captain Shirelele Mboweni at (011) 445-4963 or cellphone: 083-426-4771.