The Macassar Community Policing Forum (CPF) is planning a special annual general meeting (AGM) on 28 March to elect new members to fill some of its vacant positions.
According to Rhoda-Ann Bazier, currently standing in as acting chairperson of Macassar CPF, this meeting is extremely important because many of those who held those posts have gone on to other things, and are no longer part of the forum.
“Most of the people on the executive have resigned,” she said. “The chairperson’s position is vacant. I was a deputy chairperson, but I am now acting as a chairperson because there is no-one to fill this position. The positions we have vacant are chairperson, deputy chair, secretary and the treasurer’s position.” Two more positions in the forum have also opened up.
“These [portfolios] are very important because of the CPF’s position as liaison between the community and police,” Bazier said. “We join forces with them to fight crime together, aside from working with different suburban neighbourhood watches. An example of our linking role is, say, a complaint brought before the CPF, which we take up with the local station commander.”
She said when people join the forum they must remember they are there to serve.
Francina Lucas, chairperson of the CPF’s provincial council, pointed out that the forum’s role is to narrow the gap between the police and community.
“The CPF has to hold regular meetings with the police to see where the crime hot spots are and what the police and community can do [together] to lower crime levels,” she said. “It is also there to hold the police accountable and make sure they do their work in our communities. The CPF is also there to build a partnership between the police and community.”
“People always complain to the CPF about various policing issues,” said Bazier. “It can be difficult at times to be part of the forum. There was a time when there was a breakdown in communications between the police and the previous CPF chairperson. The secretary was too busy with his work and could not attend all the meetings. The treasurer resigned to do more outreach programmes.
“At an AGM people avail themselves for positions, but they want things to change immediately. It is not easy to be part of the CPF. If one wants to join then he/she needs to be up for the challenge and commit to it.”
Lucas says Macassar CPF is non-existent currently. “We need more members to join,” she said. “We need to step up and work with the police to tackle crime. I urge the communities of Macassar to join the CPF and to become part of the solution.”
Macassar CPF invites everyone, including all of the organizations from Ward 109, to come and register for the AGM and make themselves eligible.
“They must also bring along a letter from their organisation nominating them to represent it and its constitution,” Bazier said. “The organisation must come along and register at the Macassar Police Station.”
The Macassar CPF special AGM will take place on 28 March at the New Civic Centre in Macassar and will start at 19:00.
