CPF sets the record straight

Norman Jantjes, chairperson, Mitchell’s Plain Community Police Forum  

 The Mitchell’s Plain Community Police Forum (MPCPF) is very concerned about a recent article on social media unfairly accusing them of embarking on a campaign against the Mitchell’s Plain SAPS station commander, Brigadier Brian Muller. 

While the MPCPF acknowledges that there is indeed a current impasse between it and the said station commander, it wishes to strongly refute any and all claims that they are engaged in any such campaign which seeks to discredit and impugn the station commander.

The MPCPF derives its mandate from the South African Police Act, Chapter 7, the Community Police Forum Uniform Constitution Western Cape (2024) and Chapter 11 Section 205 (3) of the of the SA Constitution. 

These policies and laws clearly mandate the CPF to establish and maintain a partnership between the community and the SAPS (SAPS Act, Chapter 7, Section 18 (1) (a). The Act and the CPF constitution states that the CPF is the link between SAPS and the community and that SAPS and the CPF should jointly address conflict and other problems [CPF Constitution Chapter 7.7].

It further mandates the SAPS to account on the achievement of the objectives in terms of Section 205 (3) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.

In light of the above-mentioned, the Mitchell’s Plain CPF is proud to have been actively functioning in community-police bridge-building and forging strong partnerships during its elective tenure.

During this tenure the MPCPF has established and maintained positive partnerships with all the previous SAPS station commanders, including with Brigadier Cass Goolam, Brigadier Jan Alexander and Brigadier Mark Hartzenberg. Together we have managed to increase the CPF membership to a total of almost 50 member organisations [from 14].

 This joint partnership has resulted in numerous Community Imbizos and other community engagements and joint problem-solving and uniting safety structures in the precinct.

The MPCPF also hosted various educational workshops with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Western Cape Liquor Authority, the Mental Health Review Board and the Police Oversight and Community Safety Department. The MPCPF furthermore hosted various programmes for youth at risk and on domestic violence and gender-based violence.

The MPCPF has established a firm partnership with the Department of Constitutional Development and Justice through its Court Watch Project. This project is supporting the families of victims of serious crimes like murders, etc. It has also supported these families in opposing bail in these cases. This project furthermore managed to highlight and address challenges with investigations while increasing the level of cooperation among the various partners, especially between SAPS and the NPA.

The MPCPF has also gone to great lengths to show recognition and appreciation for safety structures and partners through hosting numerous Appreciation Day events for neighbourhood watch, SAPS and sub-forum members. These events have proven to constructively and positively contribute to community cohesion and improving community-police relations.

The Forum became acutely aware of the ongoing gang crisis and the exceptionally high gang-related murder rate in Mitchell’s Plain. It therefore initiated a ground-breaking Gang Dialogue initiative which translated into the unfolding of a Comprehensive Integrated Mitchell’s Plain Gang Strategy. This initiative has brought together civil society formations, religious institutions, government (SAPS, the departments of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Correctional Services, the Western Cape Education Department, Social Development and Health) and safety structures to tackle the issue (“Call for an end to the violence”, Plainsman, March 17 2021 and “Gang violence needs investigation”, Plainsman, November 9 2022), among others. 

It is thus with great sadness that we recently became aware of the adverse opinions being circulated on social media platforms thwarting and impeding such unifying efforts on the part of the MPCPF. 

We therefore kindly call upon our member organisations and safety structures to refrain from such divisive and undermining conduct and to strictly adhere to the Western Cape CPF Uniform Constitution and Code of Conduct at all times. 

As previously stated, we as the MPCPF acknowledge that there is a current impasse between the MPCPF and the Mitchell’s Plain station commander. This is, however, being addressed procedurally by the office of the Provincial Commissioner and the MPCPF endeavours to give its full cooperation in this regard.

The MPCPF is unequivocally committed to joint problem-solving and in doing so to promote the spirit of Ubuntu, establish peace, demonstrate respect and tolerance, and build trust and community cohesion.

The MPCPF also firmly believes in the furtherance of the aims and objectives of the above-mentioned legislative mandates and the creation of safer communities through social capital and respectful partnership building. 

We can only make a difference if we all unite against crime.