In an effort to fight crime and ensure the safety of residents, Durban Central SAPS members recently conducted partnership policing with the Morningside Community Police Forum. The SAPS, together with CPF members and volunteers as well as security companies, held a walkabout and did some crime prevention patrols in the Morningside area.
Gary Manth’e, chairman of the Lower Morningside Community Police Sub-forum, said that they have been in operation for almost six years and have done raids on numerous illegal establishments in the area. “However, we are still sitting with the same problem as the bylaws of the city are not adequately applied by the policing agencies of the city since they have their challenges too. By doing visible patrols in and around our community with SAPS and Metro Police, it does make difference.”
Manth’e urged the community to assist them by taking back their streets. “This has to be an ongoing partnership and we need a ‘buy-in’ from the community to help us as this is our community. We, as members of Morningside CPF and residents of the area, have initiated a movement to take back our area and our streets from the rampant criminal elements who have come into our area such as drug dealers, prostitutes, brothel owners, opportunistic criminals and vagrants who tried to take over Sutton park – a public park.”
Manth’e said they are also concerned by criminals who are responsible for cable theft which leaves their community in the dark.
“We believe that this is the criminal’s deliberate ploy to leave our community in darkness so they can take control of the area and carry out their nefarious criminal agendas. We, as the CPF, implore and appeal to residents to join with the CPF and other concerned residents to root out the criminal elements in our community, who rely on the inaction and fear of residents in order to carry out their criminal activities,” added Manth’e.
Captain Muzi Maphumulo, Durban Central SAPS communications officer, said: “The participation of the community in the prevention of crime in their areas is a big boost to the police’s function in terms of increasing the number of people in the streets for crime prevention. This initiative is encouraged for other areas as well, for prevention of crime.”
