Residents in Bo-Kaap, Tamboerskloof and De Waterkant have raised concerns about robberies, drug abuse, theft, car break-ins and house break-ins during a police community meeting.
Residents, police and law enforcement agencies met at the Bo-Kaap Civic Centre on Monday 14 September for a police imbizo aimed at addressing crime concerns and strengthening cooperation between the community and authorities.
The event was organised by Cape Town Central Police and brought together stakeholders from Sector 3, which includes Bo-Kaap, Tamboerskloof and De Waterkant.
Brig Gerda van Niekerk, Cape Town Central Police Station commander, said the community raised concerns about youth not attending school (truancy) and required assistance from police.
“The police encouraged community members to identify the youth so that police can encourage them to join the youth desk as well as the Junior Commissioners,” she explained.
According to Van Niekerk, robberies, drug abuse, car break-in, theft and house break-in are some of the key crime trends within the sector.
She said arrests, relating to these cases, “are being executed daily by police”.
Van Niekerk said imbizos will be conducted monthly within the Cape Town Central Police jurisdiction, alternating between the different sectors.
Ebrahim Christian, vice-chair of the Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers Association (BKCRA), said the event highlighted the importance of collaboration between residents and police.
“The event was about how police and the community can work together. It gave residents the opportunity to speak directly to police and understand the role between police and law enforcement.”
Christian called for more events of this nature to be held in the community. “For haven’t had a police imbizo in a couple of years, events like this is important so we want more of it to take place.”
Van Niekerk expressed her gratitude to the community for attending the imbizo and asked that they continue to be the “eyes and ears of police”.
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