Linden Community Policing Forum holds AGM

CPF reflects and looks ahead

By: Ian Kern-Martin

The Linden Community Policing Forum (CPF) held its Annual General Meeting at the station recently during which members plotted the way forward on the verge of a new era in the station’s management.

Jadd Harding, the Forum’s chairman, opened proceedings by giving his annual report in which he recapped the highlights of 2008 and elaborated on challenges to be faced in the year ahead. “I am very pleased to report that we have made excellent headway regarding the resolution of council issues in the area. We have conducted many positive initiatives including the sponsorship of an event acknowledging the excellent work and long service of the members of the station. The number of active community members involved with our activities has also grown which is pleasing,” he began.

Harding then elaborated on the areas which remain a challenge to station members and the CPF. “We receive regular complaints regarding by-law reinforcement which need constantly need to be addressed. Our biggest challenge as a Forum, however, is a lack of funds. We welcome any donations or means to raise funds to keep us afloat.”

Station Commander, Senior Superintendant Mabalane Mohale then addressed the meeting sharing his thoughts of the preceding 12 months. “I wish to say a big thank you to all Residents Associations, the members of which work very hard in assisting the CPF in decreasing crime. This is very positive. There are however about to be major staffing changes at the station and this will present us all with big challenges. A number of our officers have been transferred to other stations but I am confident that our new team of officers here are equally capable of fulfilling the needs of our precinct. I have every confidence in them."

It was then task of Forum member Shaun Scott to enlighten patrons on the CPF’s objectives for the coming year. “One of our top priorities is to address by-law enforcement issues. We intend to do this by calling the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) to account and to ask them for viable solutions. We also want to improve the running of the station by implementing a formal business plan, obtaining feedback from the various sectors. There is also a great need to address issues surrounding drug use and dealing in the area”.
In response to this statement, Councillor Laurette van Zijl of ward 98 said “drug dealing is a huge problem in the Windsor area and we need to do extensive networking with the area’s stakeholders in an attempt to solve it”.

The meeting concluded with the election of the Forum’s Executive Committee. Jadd Harding will serve another term as Chairman.
For further details, contact Shaun Scott on shaunsc@mweb.co.za or 083-442-6532.