Community police forum leaders celebrated
CRIME will not be defeated with a magic wand waved by an individual, but requires dedication from both the police and residents.
That was the message delivered by newly appointed Mdantsane police deputy cluster commander Brigadier Marinda Mills to community police forums yesterday.
Mills was speaking during the Mdantsane police cluster CPF awards at the Cambridge police station hall yesterday.
“It is critical to ensure an increased understanding amongst communities that crime is a threat to our whole society, that crime is an enemy number one for all of us and we need to work together in combating and preventing it.”
CPF members and police serving in the cluster’s 10 police stations walked away with prizes and trophies for their dedication in fighting crime.
The stations are: Vulindlela, Inyibiba, Mdantsane NU1, Komga, Mooiplaas, Kei Mouth, Cambridge, Mcleantown, Blue Water and Berlin.
Winners scooped awards in various categories including best CPF member police station, best CPF member at cluster level, best CPF police station award, best overall CPF, and most improved CPF station among others.
Komga police station, which battles high levels of drugs, won the most improved station award.
About the winners Mills said: “Today we recognise you as role models because you are setting the standard and your performance is the benchmark on which others are judged.”
The biggest winners of the night were Komga pastor Mziyanda Noqayi, 42, who is the chairman of the Mdantsane CPF.
Noqayi was the best CPF member in the Mdantsane cluster jointly with Mdantsane activist, Phumla Nqwelo, 45.
Nqwelo also took the overall best CPF member accolade.
The unemployed Nqwelo from NU6 in Mdantsane said she joined the CPF programme in 2006 as its secretary.
She said she was forced to join the police structure due to rife crime particularly robbing and abuse of elderly people.
“I believe we have done a great job with my committee because we have noticed a significant drop in lawlessness in the area.”
Police officers from the 10 police stations were also awarded for their dedication in CPFs. —