Industry support for City’s community safety patrols
STORY: Dave Savides
Industry is willing to come on board to ensure the continuation of the Community Safety Patrols (CSP). At a well attended follow-up meeting called by uMhlathuze City Mayor Zakhele Mnqayi last week, a unanimous thumbs-up was given to the project. This after CRG/Khombindlela Security spokesperson, Barry Walters, presented the financial statements for the past year and explained the 24-hour deployment by the 110 cyclists and five dedicated vehicles engaged in community protection patrols. Of special note was the fact that 211 arrests had led to an extremely high rate of 179 convictions, earning praise from the criminal justice system for the quality of evidence produced in court. While BHP Billiton has continued to fund the CSP after its 12-month pledge expired for the initial year of operation, further monies must be sourced for the patrols to continue.‘While safety and security is not a core function of the municipality, crime prevention is a government priority and we support the CSP,’ said Cllr Mnqayi. ‘As a fast growing City, we are also attractive to criminal elements. ‘We are on the brink of implementing our CCTV project, with 40 cameras in strategic areas, and we need to bring the two projects together. ‘The CSP has been seen to make the City safer and we must look at taking it forward.’ Business Against Crime Zululand has agreed to provide administrative support. Richards Bay Coal Terminal CEO, Ray Chirwa, said financing the CSP ‘should not be an issue’ given the large number of corporates. ‘Strategic leadership and management is important as sustainability is the key,’ said Chirwa
Corporates present agreed to go back to their principals and elicit financial support, while organised businesses will also be approached to contribute.
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