CAPE TOWN – Tensions reach breaking point in Durbanville as the entire executive committee of the Community Police Forum (CPF) announced their resignation, bringing an abrupt end to their tenure yesterday (30 September).
This came “after things fall apart very quickly under the new station commander”, was stated in a media release.
The executive committee, which has been serving for three and a half years, stated things went from bad to worse in September last year after a request for a meeting to discuss points of concern with the then new Durbanville police station commander, Col Gonum Munsamy, was declined by her.
In a letter to CPF members about the resignation, it was stated that this decline by Munsamy for a meeting with the Durbanville CPF led to a deadlock, whereafter a formal police investigation was opened in mid February, according to the media release.
Complaints lodged against station commander
According to the media release, despite having an excellent relationship with the previous station commander and all members of the Durbanville police, the relationship with Munsamy, who was appointed in May last year, quickly deteriorated.
“It came to a point where the members handed over a letter in September last year to the station commander to list concerns which they would like to discuss. This request was immediately denied and what followed, forced the Durbanville CPF to lodge complaints against the station commander.
“These included referring to the residents of Fisantekraal as ‘people who think they can have special privileges’ that they are ‘demanding’, ‘self-entitled’ and ‘spoilt’ and calling a Fisantekraal councillor ‘a skelm’,” reads the media release.
Further complaints include “making false statements as to racial and cultural insults made against her by members attending a Durbanville CPF public meeting, refusing to meet with the community to discuss their concerns, stating that she is not accountable to the community — contrary to various sections and principles contained in the Constitution (Act 108 of 1996), and stating that she will halt “actions to address any query or complaints regarding Durbanville police”, and as such neglecting her duties as station commander.
“These issues were referred to the provincial police management, the Provincial CPF Board and the provincial department of police oversight and community safety,” according to the media release.
No feedback
“After an investigation by the police, no feedback was provided as to their findings on these points, and therefore the complaint has been escalated to the national commissioner’s office, who is currently looking into it.
“The Cape Town district commander did instruct the station commander to work together with the chair of Durbanville CPF as partners on two projects until the end of the year.
“The chair chose to work on the already ongoing project of establishing neighbourhood watches in Fisantekraal. Unfortunately the station commander decided not to work as a partner in this project and in effect ignored a direct order from her superior officer,” according to the media release.
No assistance
“In light of the above failures, together with nearly no assistance from the provincial government, the executive committee has no other option but to resign in protest of the systematic failures of the police in their governance structures in Durbanville.
“They will no longer offer up their personal time, dealing with a systematic failure of oversight, accountability and transparency towards the community.
“We would like to convey our gratitude and thanks to the rest of the Durbanville police members, the members of the Durbanville CPF who consistently and without fail guided the exco on their decisions and actions, and specifically to the neighbourhood watches, who does a thankless task by providing a safety service, fully funded by their own time and money.
“We hope and trust that our resignation sends a clear message to the police, to be accountable and to consult with the public as guided inter alia by the Western Cape CPF Uniform Constitution,” was stated in the media release.
Purpose of CPF
According to the website of the Western Cape Provincial CPF Board (www.wcprovincialcpfboard.co.za) the aims and objectives of CPF’s are to establish and maintain a partnership between the community and police, to promote communication between police and the community, to promote co-operation between the police and the community in fulfilling the needs of the community regarding policing, to improve the rendering of police services to the community, promote transparency and accountability of the police service to the community and promote joint problem-identification and solving with the police and the community, the media release reads.
Numerous discussions
Anroux Marais, provincial minister of police oversight and community safety, said to TygerBurger she notes with concern of the resignation of the entire Durbanville CPF as a result of the ongoing tension between the CPF and the Durbanville station commander.
“Over the past months there have been numerous discussions and interventions by the Provincial CPF Board, police management and my department in an attempt to mediate and resolve the dispute.
“Despite these efforts, it is unfortunate that the parties were unable to reconcile their differences and find common ground to work together in the interest of the community,” she said.
Role of CPF
The role of the CPF is essential in promoting collaboration between the police and the communities they serve. Strong and constructive relationships between police and communities are key to effective, responsive policing, the media release reads.
Structures such as CPF’s are essential to build trust, promote accountability and ensure that community needs are reflected in local policing priorities.
“We trust that both the community of Durbanville and the Durbanville police will commit to doing everything possible to restore and strengthen collaboration in the future.
“It is in the best interest of all residents in the area that these partnerships are rebuilt to enable a safer and more trustworthy environment for all,” she said
The Durbanville station commander, Munsamy, referred TygerBurger to the provincial police for comment.
No response was received from Rafique Foflonker, spokesperson of the Provincial Community Policing Forum Board on enquiries about the way forward at the time of print.
