- Manenberg Police in partnership with the Manenberg Community Policing Forum (CPF) have launched of the Community in Blue Safety Programme.
- Community in Blue is a national programme that sees police work alongside neighbourhood watches and other safety structures to ensure the safety of communities.
- These men and women were hand-picked by our sector managers and social crime officers.
A flood of blue has hit the Manenberg policing precinct following the launch of the Community in Blue Safety Programme.
The initiative was launched by the Manenberg police in partnership with the Manenberg Community Policing Forum (CPF).
This comes at a time when the area has been plagued by sporadic shootings, and the holding of residents hostage in their homes.
In the early hours of Saturday 14 October, waring gangs opened gunfire shooting eight people between 02:00 and 07:00.
Also read: ‘We are being held hostage’: Manenberg residents stay indoors during bloody weekend
Vernon Visagie, CPF chair, says gang violence remains high on their agenda.
“The main crime concern in our community is the murders happening daily. Gang wars, gang violence and even domestic violence, these are the things that we are concerned about and I believe this initiative will help us combat crime,” he says.
Community in Blue is a national programme that sees police work alongside neighbourhood watches and other safety structures to ensure the safety of communities, especially over the festive season, says Manenberg police spokesperson Capt Ian Bennett.
“These men and women were hand-picked by our sector managers and social crime officers. They will patrol the streets of the Manenberg policing precinct under the watchful eye of station commander Brig Sanele Zama and the command of Col Sedrick Hermanus,” says Bennett.
“This vital partnership is spearheaded by the CPF. This will ensure more residents are actively involved in crime prevention giving the community vital insight into crime prevention strategies and deployment which will ensure trust worthy relationship between police and the community at large.”
Visagie agrees this initiative will go a long way in helping the community see police as a partner, rather than the enemy, which is the case now.
“It is crucial for the community to partner with police in fighting and decreasing crime. If people can really work along and see the police as our friends and partners who want to help and assist the community, then things will get better,” he says.
Visagie says having more feet on the ground will undoubtedly have an impact on crime. He continues that getting the NHW and other safety structures to work together is a success in this programme.
A meeting will be called with residents to discuss crime in the area, he says.
While the area has battled under the grip of gang violence and other social crimes for several years, this is the first time a project like this has been launched, drawing the support of the greater community within the scope of crime prevention, says Bennett.
Any safety structure operating within the Manenberg policing precinct can call Col Hermanus on 021 699 9418 or 082 411 3149.
