BEING side-lined by the police and no election held since September to appoint new leadership are some of the reasons why four executive members from the Community Police Forum (CPF) in Jeffreys Bay have resigned.
According to former Jeffreys Bay CPF Chairman, Andy Thuysman, who served for five years – two years as vice-chairman and three years as chairman – he resigned in a bid to compel the Provincial Board to elect new leadership within the forum; secondly, to create a platform where concerns between the CPF and the Jeffreys Bay Police Station can be tabled.
The election and meeting was provisionally scheduled for September last year, but is yet to take place.
Three more resignations from executive members followed suit.
Thuysman said, “It is very important to have a functional CPF as it promotes local accountability of the police to the community, as well as monitoring the effectiveness and efficiency of the police.”
Even though he could remain the chairperson after his five-year term ended, Thuysman believes that it is good for leadership to change in community-based organisations.
According to him, other issues include the upgrade of the Jeffreys Bay Police Station to full colonel status.
He said there were multiple occasions when members from the Neighbourhood Watch, which also falls under the CPF, contacted the police for assistance with a problem in the community, but were unable to get help.
“The town is growing more and more, but the police force stays the same. There should be more police officers to serve the community of Jeffreys Bay,” said Thuysman.
He further said there has been a general unwillingness by police members to open criminal dockets for investigations from complainants.
Only three dockets out of 13 known cases reported during December last year were opened for investigation, according to Thuysman.
In a letter sent to the Department of Safety and Liaison, under which the CPF falls, Thuysman stated, “I saw no positiveness going forward as there is no accountability or real willingness from station management to work with the CPF Executive to resolve and address issues mentioned.”
He continued, “The CPF Executive cannot operate in isolation and should form part of the Kouga Municipality Safety Forum as to improve engagement with the community through the various appointed ward councillors to enforce local by-laws.”
Police spokesperson Captain Gerda Swart said the Humansdorp Cluster Commander, as well as the CPF Cluster Executive Board, have been informed about the resignation of the four members from the CPF’s leadership and the necessary intervention will take place.
“The relationship between SAPS and the CPF for the past year was good. The CPF in Jeffreys Bay plays a vital role as they assist SAPS in the fight against crime and they are also the link between SAPS and the community,” said Swart.
