- The Pinelands Imbizo, held on 24 August in Thornton, brought together various stakeholders, including the police, CPF, and local youth groups, to discuss community safety and crime prevention.
- The event emphasized the importance of collaboration between the police and the community, with a focus on open dialogue and collective efforts.
- Key discussions included crime reporting mechanisms, the role of youth in promoting safety, and the launch of a Spiritual Crime Prevention Work Group.
The police imbizos are vital for the police to interact with the communities they serve. The communities get first-hand accounts of issues in their neighbourhoods and understand the roles of the police and most importantly, it is paramount that all the stakeholders can collectively work together.
This is how Riad Davids, ward councillor for Pinelands, describes the Pinelands Imbizo, which was held on Saturday 24 August in Thornton.
“These monthly imbizos are well attended and excellent interactions and initiatives emanate from these meetings and both the stakeholders and the community are more on par on what is happening in their community,” he says.
The same sentiment is shared by Dr Marietta Hopley, spokesperson for the Community Police Forum (CPF).
She was especially glad for the undertaking by the youth to do more to keep the community safe and crime-free.
The youth support groups in the communities served by the Pinelands Police and CPF and promoting crime prevention and safety were highlighted by Odwa Bongo, leader of the Provincial Youth Desk.
Hopley says the police and CPF joined forces to host the Imbizo, bringing together a wide array of stakeholders committed to enhancing community safety and security.
Critical topics
The Imbizo focused on critical topics of crime prevention, reporting mechanisms, and collaboration among the community, as well as safety and security stakeholders. It also provided a platform for open transparent dialogue to address the safety concerns of the community,” says Hopley.
Lt.Col. Darleen Koopman, Station Commander and her team at Pinelands Police Station, shared valuable insights on the Community in Blue (CIB) initiative and provided a brief overview of recent crime statistics in the area.
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Guest speakers at the event included an executive group specialising in addressing spiritual crime issues within communities, emphasizing the importance of establishing a Spiritual Crime Prevention Work Group specific to the Pinelands precinct. Additionally, the leader of the Provincial Youth Desk support group delivered a short overview of their important work, highlighting the role of youth support groups in the community and their promoting crime prevention and safety.
The Imbizo was hailed as a resounding success, underscoring the significance of collaborative efforts in fostering a secure environment for the community. The event once again highlighted the collective commitment of stakeholders to work together and reiterated the importance of ongoing engagement through platforms like Imbizo’s to ensure open communication and the safety and well-being of the community at large.
