Wynberg Police are extending their hand to spiritual services and interfaith-based organisations in the community, asking for their partnership in preventing crime.
On Wednesday 28 September, several stakeholders attended the launch of the Wynberg Police Spiritual Crime Prevention initiative at Church On Main in Wynberg.
Speaking at the event, Const Lwandiso Njwabule, who is the domestic violence coordinator at Wynberg Police Station, explained that the concept was adopted by the former national commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Gen Khehla Sitole, as one of the key deliverables of the police service’s turnaround vision.
The strategy identifies visible policing, spiritual services and interfaith-based organisations as stakeholders.
The focus areas include “to create a platform inclusive of faith-based organisations in addressing the decay of the morality in communities, moral regeneration, moral and religious education, youth development, strengthening of family structures, prison ministry, a community offender re-integration programme, and the establishment of a crime prevention support desk in churches”.
“If we look at Section 205 of the Constitution, what is expected of the police, the first thing is crime prevention. First prevention, then combatting. We don’t want the crime to escalate up to the point that we want to combat it – we want to stop it there,” said Njwabule.
Addressing those present at Wednesday’s launch, Capt Johan Muller, shift commander at Wynberg Police Station, said the formation of a partnership with spiritual leaders was vital.
“We need you to form a partnership with SAPS. The police already have partnerships with the CPF (Community Policing Forum), neighbourhood watches, but now the most important one is you, the spiritual leaders. We need you to come on board to take this vehicle further, because the police realise we can’t fight this battle alone anymore,” added Muller.
Although a lot was said on the day, a concern that kept on being raised was the lack of discipline and respect for authority figures among youth.
Capt Adam Pietersen said: “We are all joined here this morning because we have a common purpose. Our communities are broken, so we need to fulfil that role in bringing our communities back together.”
He said what was needed were programmes to bring back discipline and “to bring back fathers to do what they were called to do”.
“When we look at our churches, we see the mothers are there but the fathers are nowhere to be found.”
Pietersen added that churches had the ability to bridge the gap between the neighbourhood and the larger communities.
“The church is trusted by our communities. They are based within the local communities, they are flexible and they are there, many times they fulfil that role that a parent fulfils. Another thing is the church is committed.
“They also are always available, they are involved in the community and then because they care and they want to offer that support. They are united in brotherhood because they have that duty to serve,” he said.
While a call to sign up their names then and there was met with hesitancy by those present, many indicated that they were in favour of such an initiative. However, the general feedback was that more information was needed as to what exactly would be expected before a commitment could be made. Some also said that they first had to run it by their church’s committees.
Two spiritual leaders who were ready to sign up immediately were Sheikh Abdurahmaan Sadien of Imam Yusuffyyah Mosque, and BC Simeon of the Command of Faith Wynberg branch.
- Any spiritual organisations that would like to find out more or become involved in the initiative are encouraged to call Capt Silvino Davids on 079 8941470 or email WynbergVispolCmdr@saps.gov.za
