By More Matshediso
Pretoria – The Gauteng provincial government will over the next five years develop a new Community Policing Model aimed at combating crime.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura said in his Budget Vote Speech on Friday that the model is aimed at improving relations between the community and the police.
Premier Makhura said President Jacob Zuma will ask his office to intervene in the fight against crime in Gauteng.
“I have been in direct contact with President Zuma, who has thrown the weight of his office [behind our fight against] crime,” he said.
Premier Makhura said residents hid criminals in their communities and called for communities to work with the police to root out criminals, and create crime free societies.
“… These criminals are at large and are terrorising our communities. I will be meeting the MEC of Community of Safety, Provincial Commissioner of Police, the senior management and law enforcement agencies to strengthen the fight against crime and build a safe and secure province,” Premier Makhura said.
Community Policing Forums (CPF), the premier said, will be refocused towards conducting oversight of stations and becoming a proper link between stations and communities.
“We shall also strengthen civilian oversight,” said the premier.
Recent hijackings
The premier’s sentiments were triggered by two hijacking incidences that claimed a life of a child, and another being kidnapped over a week ago.
In one instance, four-year-old Taegrin Morris died from being dragged from his mother's car in Reiger Park to Boksburg during a hijacking.
Taegrin was laid to rest on Saturday.
A few days before Taegrin’s death, Mongezi Phike was kidnapped during a hijacking. He was with his father in a car at an intersection in Masada, Bronkhorstspruit, when they were approached by four men.
Mongezi was reunited with his family after four days. - SAnews.gov.za
