The meeting on Saturday, 16 February, between the police, various Community Policing Forums (CPFs), the public and other interest groups took place in an amicable spirit.
Spokesperson Captain Juanita Yorke opened the meeting by getting the attendees to sing a rousing version of the Tears for Fears hit song, Shout, before proceedings commenced.
The meeting was chaired by Warrant Officer Johan Loots (who is also sector manager) and chairperson of the West Suburbs Roodepoort Neighbourhood Watch (WSRNW) and Matthys van Rensburg, with various other speakers also taking part. Van Rensburg explained what legitimised CPFs and neighbourhood watches and where they fit into the sector hierarchy. He also pointed out that the role of the sector manager – the prevention of crime – is of utmost importance. He went on to explain that the sector crime forum is the platform where the public and organisations such as schools and churches could engage with the police.
One of the problems Van Rensburg bemoaned is the lack of young patrollers joining neighbourhood watches and CPFs, but he added that wanting to become a patroller “should come from your heart”.
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