Durban - Community policing forums (CPFs) in Durban have welcomed the announcement made by Police Minister Bheki Cele that funding for the crime-fighting organisations was being prioritised.
Cele said the funding plan had come about after calls were made by residents of Inanda, uMlazi and Clermont townships who attended the crime prevention izimbizo hosted by the police ministry at the weekend.
“The funding of CPFs is not a matter of ‘if’ but a matter of ‘when’. In principle, we agree that CPFs across the country must be better supported and provided with resources and funds to assist police in crime detection and prevention.
“It is clear that police need communities and communities need the police, if we are to win this fight against crime. We know and appreciate the role of CPFs, neighbourhood watches, street patrollers and similar anti-crime structures in the policing value chain. This is why the call by communities to fund CPFs is currently being addressed at the highest level,” Cele said.
He said the Civilian Secretariat for Police and provincial Departments of Community Safety were exploring the possible funding models for the country’s CPFs.
EThekwini Cluster CPF chairperson Imtiaz Syed said the call for funding had been made for a long time.
“However, we fear that as soon as you do fund CPFs they become politicised for power as well as a means to earn an income, which really needs to be addressed. Effective neighbourhood watches should be identified and be put forward by communities.
“Members of the CPF should not be funded directly. However the structure as an entity should be registered as an NPO (non-profit organisation) and thereafter funded as a means for it to do its business.”
Isipingo CPF chairperson Aidan David said he welcomed the plan.
“I’m very happy that he (Cele) has finally realised the value of our partnership and it’s about time that the resources for the CPF as a structure (were) prioritised and provided for.”
Jane Davies, acting chairperson of the Brighton Beach main community policing forum, said the province was already supposed to be funding the CPF as a duty placed on it by the Constitution to promote good relations between the community and the police. She said it was “good to see that the police are looking to address its shortcomings”.
“At the moment, we rely heavily on already financially constrained members of the public, NGOs and businesses in order to provide police support. The police are extremely understaffed and under-resourced.”
Davies said it was yet to be confirmed if all CPFs would be funded and when.
“A concern is that communities will believe that CPFs are funded and therefore stop contributions prior to that particular area being allocated funds.”
Calvin Thomas, Umbilo executive CPF chairperson, said CPFs on the ground had not received any detailed information on how these funds would be allocated and for what purpose.
“We currently have patrollers using their own funds to fill fuel in their vehicles to patrol the areas they reside in together with SAPS members.
“I can only speak for Umbilo as this is how we are working. If funds can be used to reimburse patrollers for their petrol expenses or bulletproof jackets or purchasing of hand-held radios to be used for communication purposes between the CPF and patrollers, that will be welcomed.”