The civil rights organisation AfriForum this past weekend mobilised more than 5 000 people across the country for a national patrol.
Approximately 110 AfriForum neighbourhood watches covered a total of 51 881 km in 2 292 vehicles. Nearly 120 incidents were handled successfully during the various patrols, including the prevention of a possible farm attack in Delmas.
Various security companies, community policing forums, tow-away services, police stations, local businesses, paramedic services and traffic departments participated in the patrol together with AfriForum neighbourhood watches.
“The purpose of the national patrol was to mobilise communities against crime and improve visibility and cooperation on both national and local level. The number of incidents that were handled during the patrols indicate that it is a successful strategy to crack down on criminals and combat crime. Communities must take responsibility for their own safety in cooperation with the SAPS,” says Hillel Coetzer, AfriForum’s Safety Coordinator for the northern region.
“National visibility projects such as these are necessary to help the SAPS to prevent and combat crime. The community has an integral role to support the SAPS to safeguard their various communities,” concludes Johandré van Zyl, AfriForum’s Safety Coordinator for the Northern, Eastern and Western Cape.
Become involved at your local AfriForum branch today: SMS your name to 45353 (R1).