Voluntary crime fighters thanked

Community police forum

(CPF) and neighbourhood watch members, along with members of the youth desk, the elderly desk, the victim empowerment programme and other individuals who assist the police in the fight against crime, were thanked and honoured for their time and effort on Thursday evening, 6 December.

People from as far as Uniondale, Plettenberg Bay and Dysselsdorp attended the glittering function held at Eagle's Nest Ministries in Pacaltsdorp where they were awarded for their voluntary efforts to curb crime in their areas, which is a thankless job.

"People need to feel safe, and each of you here tonight contributes to that in some way or the other," Maj-Gen Oswald Reddy said during his keynote address. "The reason we are here tonight is for recognition, appreciation, thanks and gratitude. These certificates are a very small gesture but it means a lot. It comes from the heart." Reddy mentioned the continued integrated efforts in the fight against crime. "We have to be strong and decisive in our actions. In the partnership that we have with the CPFs, neighbourhood watch members, reservists, community patrollers and the media, we have to ensure that we take back our streets. We have to take ownership for our areas. The longer we allow criminals to rule, the longer it will take for us to take back control." Southern Cape police spokesperson, Captain Malcolm Pojie, was a wellorganised master of ceremonies.

See more photos at www.georgeherald.comThe group of men and women from the Conville CPF and neighbourhood watches who were honoured with certificates of appreciation from Eden Cluster commander, Maj-Gen Oswald Reddy (middle) and CPF chairman, Isaac Dikgachi (far right).

With Major-General Oswald Reddy (second right) are the members of the George CPF and neighbourhood watches that were awarded: André Olivier, André Pieterse, Gert Nothnagel, Charles Newham, Llani Newham, Liana van der Rijst, Theresa Buys, Anzelle Fourie and CPF chairman, Isaac Dikgachi (far right).

Neighbourhood watch and CPF members from Thembalethu with Eden Cluster commander, Maj-Gen Oswald Reddy (second right) and CPF chairman, Isaac Dikgachi (far right).

Pieter Kleinbooi, Rudolph Treurnicht, Charly Daman, Fibi Bass, Christina Meyer and Sara Martin from Pacaltsdorp received certificates of appreciation from Maj-Gen Oswald Reddy and CPF chairman, Isaac Dikgachi.

The ladies who did their magic in the kitchen are, from left: Florence Mokgaladi, Salomie Nathan, Alana Dickson, Sandra Minné and Zelda Ponoshe.

Group Editors’ efforts in the fight against crime did not go unnoticed. George Herald’s crime reporter, Kristy Kolberg, received their certificate on behalf of the group. With her are Eden Cluster commander, Maj-Gen Oswald Reddy (left) and CPF chairman, Isaac Dikgachi.