Police Minister Bheki Cele yesterday handed over seven cars and two buses to the Western Cape Community Policing Board.
The handover took place at the new Makhaza police station in Khayelitsha.
Speaking with community policing forum (CPF) patrol members, Cele said the vehicles would make their work easier.
“We got an allocation of R70-million for the country and the Western Cape received R12.1-million. We are happy that, finally, you are receiving the resources that will make your job a lot easier,” said Cele.
He said the buses would help the CPF on rainy days when patrol members had to walk long distances.
Some members said they would have liked to drive the vehicles themselves and to receive a stipend but the minister said this would create temptation.
“Some might abuse the cars and the vehicles won’t be available when they are needed because they are busy doing their private things,” he said.
The SAPS will be responsible for the vehicles.
Provincial CPF chairperson Francina Lucas voiced gratitude for the vehicles.
“We have been fighting for these resources for many years,” said Lucas. “We know that they will make our jobs easier because we won’t have members stuck at home because they don’t have transport to get where they have to go.”
She said the government and the SAPS are moving in the right direction by resourcing the community’s most important assets.
With the high crime rate in Makhaza, Lucas believes that the vehicles will help CPF patrollers respond quickly when needed.
A CPF member, speaking anonymously, voiced concern that the police might abuse the vehicles.
“It would be better if the vehicles were given to CPF members. We know that the SAPS do their grocery shopping with them and transport their families and girlfriends.”
Community policing forums are mandated to facilitate community-police relations within a specific police station precinct.
Pictured above: Minister of Police Bheki Cele handed over nine vehicles to the Western Cape Community Policing Board.
Image source: Buziwe Nocuze
