Crime-buster leads Steenberg’s CPF

FROM living a relatively sheltered life in Punts Estate, Diep River to living in Mitchells Plain, Steenberg’s Community Policing Forum ( CPF) chairperson Gavin Walbrugh became more and more aware of crime.

Walbrugh said the only crimes he heard of was an occasional house burglary and theft out of motor vehicles.

“After a short stay in Mitchells Plain, I moved to Retreat where I have lived for the past 30 years. The escalation was bad and I knew I had to get more involved so I started my crime-fighting journey through joining the neighbourhood watch (NHW).”

He said the watch would patrol day and night, seven days a week, through the coldest of nights, with full determination to stop crime, no matter what circumstances they were faced with. His community involvement started about 28 years ago and because of the patrols crime shifted to other areas.

“We helped to form NHWs across Retreat, Cafda, Steenberg and Lavender Hill. It was at that time I heard about Cafda, Lavender Hill and Steenberg and the crimes in those areas, and it was here that the seed was planted to assist and become a voice for the voiceless.”

Walbrugh became more involved administratively and eventually attended CPF meetings as a representative of the NHW forum.

Another community activ- ist, Lucinda Evans was then elected as chairperson and Walbrugh continued in his post as secretary until Evans accepted a nomination to serve as the chairperson of the Mitchells Plain cluster CPF a year ago.

“At this point, I must thank councillor Southgate and Lucinda for the guidance I received from them over the years. I count it a great honour and a privilege to be able to lead the CPF and together with the exco to be the mouthpiece of the community and to be the link between the police and the community,” he said.

The Steenberg CPF’s mission is to ensure that the trust is restored between the community and the police.

He said the CPF is working very hard to get community organisations to work together for the children of the area. – Shanice Naidoo

Gavin Walbrugh