Police station get a new commander ... again

Mitchell’s Plain police station has had two different brigadiers at its helm within a month.

Brigadier Jan Alexander, who had completed a month at Nyanga police station is now in the hot seat at Mitchell’s Plain since Tuesday November 29.

Brigadier Lindiwe Dyanti, who had started at the Eastridge police station on Monday October 24, is now station commander at Nyanga police station (“Committed to fighting crime together”, Plainsman November 2).

On September 30 Brigadier Cass Goolam retired on his 60th birthday.

During his seven-year tenure as station commander at Steenberg police station, Colonel Alexander did a three-month stint as acting station commander at Mitchell’s Plain police station five years ago (“Goolam back at station”, Plainsman November 22 2017).

He said that Western Cape police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile had asked both Brigadiers Alexander and Dyantyi whether there were any objections to the swap, which was also supported by national police commissioner General Sehlahle Fannie Masemola last month.

Brigadier Alexander last week told the Plainsman that his previous experience at the station and coming from a gang-infested area had contributed to his deployment to the precinct.

He said the most important focus would be crimes against women and children, coupled with gender-based violence and gang violence.

“At station level there is a high volume of gender-based violent crime; and crimes against women and children,” said Brigadier Alexander.

He explained that each of the prioritised crimes had its own dynamics.

“Most domestic violence cases happen behind closed doors.

“It is in house, which makes it very difficult for us to police but we have a responsibility to respond when it is reported,” he said.

He explained that there would be a focus on getting weapons, including guns and knives, off the streets.

“We will be paying attention to drug outlets and liquor outlets, especially the illegal liquor outlets. There seems to be drug outlets all over in the precinct. We must make sure we pay special attention to those, even the drug dealers, drug users and obviously the merchants for that matter,” he said.

Brigadier Alexander said taxi violence and extortion of businesses and business people were also of concern.

“People are going missing person and there is a claim for a particular amount. We do have a provincial branch dealing with extortion, which we can activate for operational assistance,” he said.

He would like to address the standard of service delivery and crime investigation.

Brigadier Alexander said his first strategy would be to build a strong partnership between the community and the police.

“With acknowledging all of the safety structures in the community, which starts with the CPF (Community Police Forum),” he said.

He said that he would like to have regular outreach programmes.

“When there is cry out from the community, community mobilisation, especially during the festive season to double up; and get the broader community actively involved in the prevention of crime”.

Brigadier Alexander said his responsibilities would include improving the morale of the 455 staff under the Public Service Act and the Police Act.

“They must do it with me. I cannot leave them behind. I will subsequently get everyone on board to reach out to the community,” he said.

Mitchell’s Plain CPF chairman Norman Jantjes said the Brigadier would be introduced at imbizos in each of the nine sectors of the precinct.

“This would be for the new kid on the block to introduce himself to the community.

“It would be the beginning of forming that partnership, so that he can get to know the community, and the community can get to know him,” he said.

Mr Jantjes said it was important to be on the ground “to get a fresh understanding in terms of the cry out from the community and what their expectations are”, he said.

He said the station’s management team had contributed to effective strategies.

Mr Jantjes said the change in station commander had not affected operations but that the morale of staff had been affected.

He said the CPF was happy that someone familiar with policing gangsterism was in the hot seat to share best practices.

He appealed to the community to report crime and suspicious activity, which could prevent crime.

“It is the festive season when more people drink and drive; when there is more money around; more people are at home; and when kids are at home so I believe and trust that SAPS will double their operations during this so-called ‘silly season’,” he said.

He commended joint operations between SAPS and municipal law enforcement agencies. Mr Jantjes said they were also supported by neighbourhood watch members.

He called on parents to be aware of their children’s whereabouts.

“You must know where they are, who they are associated with. The level of gang violence is an abnormal situation. You can’t deal with that type of crime in your normal operations,” he said.

He said that gangsterism was everybody’s business.

“Every department of government should play a role.

“We need social development to have programmes for high risk youth.

“Everyday if you walk around Mitchell’s Plain you see youngsters at home that should be at school.

“So education should be on board. Younger and younger kids are getting involved with crime. They start by throwing stones and many of these stone throwers are now full-fledged gangsters,” he said.

Mr Jantjes said an integrated approach was needed, including closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and number plate recognition technology.

“Witnesses are scared to come forward but with the use of resources and expertise it will make work a lot easier,” he said.