The Elsies River Community Police Forum (ERCPF) has noted an increase in robberies involving smash-and-grab incidents on main transport corridors operating in the area.
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In the past, the ERCPF ran awreness campaigns and deployed neighbourhood watch members and Walking Bus volunteers to hotspots in Elsies River. The initiatives were however halted when the City withdrew its funding, as per an ERCPF statement.
‘As part of our anticipation for the increase in vulnerability of commuters in winter and as part of a National drive the ERCPF recruited and trained more than 80 volunteers as part of the Community in Blue initiative.
‘These volunteers has been ready for deployment since December last year but have not been issued with uniforms and equipment yet. The inability of SAPS our partner to deliver on their promise to capacitate our Community in Blue Volunteers has handicapped our communities ability to assist in combatting crime.’
ERCPF chair Hamish Arries demands that these uniforms and equipment be issued immediately, as well as the deplyment of LEAP officers to assist in patrols. ‘The City of Cape Town has a responsibility to safeguard roads and traffic. We are always hearing about the success of LEAP Officers and other CoCT initiatives but non of these are made available to the community of Elsies River. Councilors have budgets that are under utilised and despite ingoing political mind games and promises very little support materialises.’
Arries says community leaders have become discontent due to being ‘ignored and neglected by all our partners, that being SAPS as well as the Department of Community Safety and the City of Cape Town, and our community has to bear the brunt of the criminal onslaught on their own.’
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