Huhudi crime declined as a result of community patrollers
Community Safety Patrollers (CSPs) are seen to be lending significant weight in the fight against crime. This is attested by the rapid drop of criminality in the township of Huhudi near Vryburg, which was declared as one of the crime hotspots in the province, two years ago.
In 2023, the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management appointed 30 volunteers who have been serving as community safety patrollers in the area, working closely with the Huhudi police station.
A group that consisted of 07 young women, 05 young men, 10 adult female and 08 adult male, have since the duration of their appointment patrolled the police station precinct, conducted crime awareness campaigns within the community and schools.
Speaking on behalf of the police station, Sergeant Omphemetse Khorai appreciated the contribution of the patrollers in the fight against crime in the area.
“By the time we started the process of appointing patrollers with the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, house breakings, common robberies, fraud, theft and other common crimes were problematic. However, their commitment, hardwork and movements in the township including around the malls have contributed to the decline of crime,” said Khorai.
The 30 patrollers, upon their appointment, were taken through induction workshops where they received training to enable them to effectively perform their duties.
In addition, they have been trained in General Security Practices to be officially accredited by the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA).
Speaking on behalf of the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, Mr Tebogo Serage said the police alone cannot win the war against crime, hence the department continues to forge partnerships with other state institutions, private sector and communities to fight crime.
“From the community participation, we have a wing of Community Safety Patrollers which we appoint through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) with a grant from the National Department of Public Works.
“Initially the programme was meant to run for a year and an extension of another year was granted. This as a result of seeing their commitment and actual impact of their work,” said Serage.
One of the beneficiaries is 39-year-old Bontleeng Botsime, said she has managed to achieve a lot during the inception of her appointment. “I have managed to take care of my girl child, who’s now furthering her studies at a tertiary institution. This could not have been possible without the opportunity I was granted.
“Mostly this programme has motivated me to go back to school despite my age. Currently I don’t have matric but I’ve registered with Abet college because my goal is to get a matric certificate, then upgrade my driving license from code 8 to code 10,” said Botsime who was previously working as a saleswoman at one of the local retails in town.
The department continues to appoint patrollers in many crime hotspot areas in the province.
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