Gauteng police need CPF’s and civil security structures to succeed

FF Plus

Gauteng police need CPF’s and civil security structures to succeed
Gauteng police need CPF's and civil security structures to succeed

On 29 July 2021, during an oversight visit to Sebokeng in Gauteng, the FF Plus emphasised the importance of Community Policing Forums and encouraged the Gauteng police force to cooperate more closely with civil security structures.

During the Gauteng Legislatures’ Community Safety Portfolio Committee meeting in Sebokeng, the Gauteng Police Commissioner, Lt.-Gen. Elias Mawela, gave an oversight report on the recent riots and looting in the province.

The FF Plus is of the opinion that without the cooperation of private security companies and civil security structures, the Gauteng police force would have been under a lot more pressure to bring the riots in the province under control.

The party has warned the Police Commissioner numerous times in the past that police officers must be better trained and equipped in order to effectively combat civil anarchy.

Before and during the time of unrest, the Gauteng intelligence services let the province down and as a result, 68 incidents occurred in Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, Tshwane, Sedibeng and on the West Rand, during which 23 shopping centres were looted.

In addition, 26 police officers were injured as well as 13 Ekurhuleni metro police officers (one of which passed away), 14 Johannesburg metro police officers and one more metro police officer in Tshwane.

The police’s “Reclaim the Loot” operation in Gauteng has recovered the following purportedly stolen items:

Electrical goods (stoves, fridges, freezers etc.): 1 889
Other items (furniture, tools, building materials): 3 096
Vehicles, motorbikes and parts: 290
Cash: R187 985
Liquor: 12 500 litres

Swift and effective cooperation between all safety and security sectors is vital for averting future riots and looting as well as ensuring the safety of the people.

The FF Plus will continue to put pressure on the Police Commissioner to take preventative action so as not to be caught off guard again, as was the case with the recent unrest.

Read the original article in Afrikaans by Kobus Hoffman on FF Plus

SOURCE FF Plus