Safety committees to fight crime
'As community members we have to take the initiative in saying enough is enough'
TO intensify a war against crime, King Cetshwayo District facilitator for the Department of Community Safety and Liaison, Sibulelo Ntuli, encourages communities to establish ward safety committees.
Addressing a ward 27 community meeting in uMhlanga Reserve near Ngwelezana, Ntuli said the KZN government was concerned about the crime rate affectiung communities, especially women and children.
‘We are here sent by MEC Mxolisi Kaunda to preach the gospel of ward safety committees throughout the district, to be used as a mechanism to reduce crime in our society. The reality is that crime affects us all. It knows no political party, race, creed or gender.
‘As community members we have to take the initiative in saying enough is enough.
‘One is not encouraging a culture of vigilantism. You must not take the law into your own hands. Do not beat those committing crime, but hold them tight so that when the police come, they themselves would quickly jump into a police van voluntarily without being pushed,’ she said.
She said the ward safety committees will serve as the eyes and ears of the police, adding that community members must not shy away from naming and shame those committing crime, as most of them were known.
‘The ward safety committees are not a replacement of the CPFs, but they will work with a war room to report on any criminal activities taking place in a ward. They will also work with the CPF and the police, as they share a common vision of fighting crime.
‘We are here to elect 10 members per voting district. As this ward has four voting districts, we will end up with 40 members who will be introduced to a local police station. This project will be launched officially by MEC Kaunda here in Empangeni,’ she said.
The 10 elected members of Ward 27’s uMhlanga/Isigisi voting district are Dumisani Mhlongo, Mzokho Mkhize, Zanele Dladla, Nomcebo Ndlovu, Sifiso Shandu, Siyabonga Masinga, Bonginkosi Dladla, Nkosinathi Mpungose, Nompumelelo Buthelezi, Scelo Mnguni and Thandazile Sithole.
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