Community Safety

(1)                      (a)  A total of 147 (97%) Community Police Forums (CPFs) conducted their Annual General Meetings (AGMs) successfully out of the total of 151 CPFs. It is noteworthy and commendable that these AGMs were completed in a compliant manner, albeit within the challenging COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. These successes can be attributed to the tireless commitment, teamwork and strong partnerships between our Western Cape communities, the Department of Community Safety (DoCS) and the South African Police Service (SAPS).

                 Of the 147 CPFs that had AGMs, 121 CPFs have been issued with AGM certificates, co-signed by DoCS and SAPS. SAPS is still in the process of vetting the elected executive committee members of the 21 remaining CPFs before they can be issued with their certificates.

                 The AGMs of 4 CPFs  have not been completed, due to procedural and governance matters. DoCS and SAPS are in the process of resolving these matters in order to conclude these ones as well.

            (b)  The challenges that have been encountered regarding the AGM elections are:

• Governance matters – Inadequate communication with regards to invitation to meetings, resulting in under-representation of sector and sub-forums.
• Poor financial controls and reporting.
• Procedural challenges – insufficient attendance at AGMs, resulting in the lack of the required quorums.
• COVID-19 related infections and deaths amongst CPF members impacted on the stability of CPFs.
• Limited engagements because CPFs could not meet much the past year because of the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. This was also applicable to engagements between DoCS and CPF structures in the province;
• Due to the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, most CPFs do not have access to online platforms to have engagements and as a result less meetings were held.

           (c)   The COVID-19 pandemic and consequent restrictions proved to be the most prominent cause for the delays, as it delayed the process of conducting AGMs. In a few cases, there were procedural and governance matters that required resolution. Further delays were also caused by the SAPS vetting process. The Department was informed by SAPS that there is currently a backlog in completing the vetting processes.

           (d)  The Uniform Constitution for Community Police Forums and Boards in the Western Cape, under Legal Principles: number 4 stipulates: “South African Police Service Act, Act 68 of 1995: Section 64C: The Executive Head of the Municipal Police shall  -

(2)(f) either personally or through a member or members of the Municipal Police Service designated by him or her for that purpose, represent the Municipal Police Service on every Community Police Forum or Sub-Forum established in terms of Section 19 within the area of jurisdiction of the Municipality”.

In addition, Section. 8.3, “Membership: Forum and Sub-Forum” states that “all members, employees of the Service and Municipal Police members, designated to the Forum or Sub-Forum, are collectively a single statutory member for the respective Forums or Sub-Forums”;

It is noted that the local ward councillors are ex officio members of their local CPFs, however not all ward councillors attended CPF meetings.

Furthermore, municipalities may assist by encouraging community safety partners or structures to register on the CPF stakeholder databases to ensure representation on CPF structures (EXCO and sub-forums, sector forums) and to get involved on various safety platforms such as Community Safety Forums at municipal level, CBOs (Community-Based Organisations), Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs).

           (2)   (a)  To date 16 Area-Based Teams have been established.

                   (b)  Area-Based Teams have been established in the following areas:

                 Khayelitsha (SiteB), Harare, Delft, Mfuleni, Mitchells Plain, Hanover Park, Atlantis, Bishop Lavis, Nyanga, Gugulethu, Kraaifontein, Garden Route District (Thembalethu), West Coast District (Swartland), Central Karoo District (Beaufort West), Overberg District (Theewaterskloof) and Cape Winelands District (Witzenberg).

              (c)       To date expenditure relates to operational costs for workshops held in different areas, amounting to R15 670.00.