The construction of Brown’s Farm Satellite Police Station in Philippi is on the cards. However, Minister of Police Bheki Cele’s office is waiting for the Mayor’s office to sign the memorandum of understanding MOU) permitting the ministry to erect temporary offices.
Addressing a ministerial imbizo engaging the Nyanga community on crime and safety at Linge Primary School on Wednesday 15 May, Cele said the office of Provincial Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Thembekile Patekile had written and signed an MOU and sent it to the Mayor’s office in January requesting land for this purpose.
“Brown’s Farm is hell when it comes to crime,” he said, “something we are very much aware of. That is why we wrote an MOU requesting a piece of land where we can put our offices for now while we are waiting for the police station to be erected. Until now, the Mayor has never responded to it.”
The minister said he was surprised by the number of shebeens and taverns in the area, citing them as having an impact on the escalating crime. He said he did not have a problem with poeple selling alcohol as long as it was legal.
“The profile of this precinct is not good at all. Despite having 19 schools (both primary and high schools), 27 churches and several clinics, combined they have less significance in this precinct than the 41 shebeens and 27 bottle stores here. Tell me, can you have a normal society in this situation?”
Cele said, according to information from the police, in total there are 141 spaza shops, 81 of which are run by foreign nationals. He urged the community to work with police to root out crime in the area.
Nyanga Community Policing Forum chair Michael Bangani said crime levels in the precinct were a great concern. He reiterated Cele’s sentiments that the Brown’s Farm community deserved their police station. “The LEAP and metro police and officers should be visible all the time in our communities.”
Bangani added they mustn’t just be visible but also do stop-and-search. He said CPF members took pride in supporting the officers.
Responding to Cele remarks, the City said by law it must approve all lease agreements, including with police in this instance, even with a police station.
“The City has expedited all processes regarding the lease agreement following the police’s request; it has been signed and will be ratified at the next council meeting.”
