Strandfontein residents urged to report crimes

Sandy Schuter Flowers, Chairperson of Strandfontein Community Police Forum

The recent crime statistics reveal a dire reality that our communities face daily. Repeat offenders pose a significant challenge, as they are arrested by police only to be released the next day, continuing to perpetrate violence in our community.

Strandfontein has experienced a surge in crime.

As community police forum (CPF) members, we work tirelessly, actively engaging in patrols and anti-crime initiatives.

The presence of community safety structures like neighbourhood and block watches has mitigated the situation, but it would be far worse without them.

Often, we are on the streets without SAPS visibility.

We are fatigued by lengthy meetings and discussions and demand more action.

The Department of Justice must take decisive action to address the issue of repeat offenders, who are arrested and released repeatedly, only to continue terrorising our communities.

It is imperative that they tighten the laws and enforcement to hold these offenders accountable.

It is crucial that residents report criminal activity directly to the authorities, rather than solely sharing information on WhatsApp group chats.

The crime statistics do not accurately reflect the reality of crime in our area, as evident from the frequent posts on social media.

We urge residents to report incidents to the police first, and then share information on group chats.

The upcoming development of a college in Strandfontein will significantly impact our policing needs, yet our request for an upgrade for additional resources was declined by the provincial SAPS.

To justify the need for more human resources, we require accurate crime reporting.

We encourage residents to join recognised safety structures and report crime to 10111, followed by sharing information on group chats.

Let us work together to combat crime and ensure our community's safety.