AfriForum invites Acting Police Minister to participate in neighbourhood watch patrol
AfriForum has formally invited Firoz Cachalia, Acting Minister of Police, to take part in one of AfriForum’s neighbourhood watch patrols to witness firsthand how communities across the country has mobilised in efforts to prevent crime. This follows the Minister’s renewed commitment to a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach to fighting crime during the release of the latest crime figures for the third quarter of the current financial year on Friday. AfriForum welcomes this approach and emphasises the importance of formal cooperation between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and neighbourhood watch structures. The civil rights organisation today extended its written invitation to Cachalia to participate in a patrol at a time and place convenient to him. The purpose of the invitation is to demonstrate the structured, disciplined and lawful manner in which AfriForum’s neighbourhood watch members support the SAPS.
Since establishing its first neighbourhood watch in 2012, AfriForum’s division for Community Safety has expanded to 177 neighbourhood watch structures nationwide. These structures operate within defined legal parameters, adhere to strict codes of conduct and undergo structured training programmes to ensure professionalism and accountability.
Training within AfriForum’s neighbourhood watch network includes foundational legal and operational training, communication and incident reporting protocols, as well as leadership and command-level training for sector heads and coordinators. Continuous refresher training ensures that high standards are maintained across all structures.
According to AfriForum, structured cooperation between neighbourhood watches and local SAPS members strengthens crime prevention efforts, improves information-sharing and enhances trust between communities and law enforcement.
“Communities have stepped up in a responsible and organised manner to assist in safeguarding their neighbourhoods. We would welcome the opportunity to show the Acting Minister how disciplined and professionally our volunteers operate and how structured cooperation with SAPS can serve as a force multiplier in the fight against crime,” says Jacques Broodryk, Chief Spokesperson for Community Safety at AfriForum.
“Communities need the SAPS and the SAPS needs communities. Beter cooperation will help improve safety for all,” concludes Broodryk.
