Afriforum participate in national patrol

AfriForum’s northern region neighbourhood watches participate in national patrol  

AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches in the northern region on 30 July 2021 participated in the civil rights organisation’s national patrol in their various areas to increase policing visibility. The patrol was undertaken in cooperation with the SAPS, local community policing forums, community members, various security companies and other safety institutions.   

Altogether 660 AfriForum members in Gauteng (331), Limpopo (81) and Mpumalanga (248) and 41 other institutions covered in total more than 30 169 km in 393 vehicles. The patrol started at approximately 16:00 on Friday 30 July and continued until 06:00 on Saturday 31 July.  

The neighbourhood watches in Gauteng, which covered a total of 13 900 km in 191 vehicles, offered support during 31 incidents in the province. These incidents include the apprehension of reckless and drunk drivers, the prevention of armed robberies and various roadblocks where people were arrested for the possession of drugs.   

In Limpopo, 64 vehicles covered a total of 3 132 km during the patrol. Help was summoned after housebreakings took place, while possible other housebreakings were also prevented. There was also an attempted vehicle theft that was successfully thwarted in cooperation with the SAPS.    

The neighbourhood watches in Mpumalanga covered a total of 13 137 km and successfully handled 15 incidents in cooperation with the SAPS and other safety institutions. 

“Visibility plays a crucial role in the combating of crime and AfriForum’s northern region neighbourhood watches will continuously tackle projects and regularly organise patrols to combat crime in cooperation with the SAPS and other safety institutions,” says Llewellynn Hemmens, AfriForum’s Head of Community Safety for the northern region. “I would also like to thank the following groups for their support during this patrol and that we can always count on their cooperation: The Heritage Protection Group (HPG), the Rural Safety Police, the SAPS, various CPF groups, as well as many security companies.” 

Andries Opperman, AfriForum’s Provincial Safety Coordinator for Limpopo, thanked the neighbourhood watch members for their selfless service. “We are seeing through actions such as these how communities are in a professional and disciplined manner – within the framework of the law – taking ownership of their own safety and are purposefully establishing a network of cooperation through which they can ensure their prosperous existence. Criminals withdraw themselves from a community that is visible and prepared and can cooperate.”     

“National patrols have a big impact on crime prevention in the area and lower crime rates have been reported when actions like these are taking place. It definitely helps to keep the people in our province safe,” says Hennie Bekker, AfriForum’s district coordinator for the Lowveld. 

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AfriForum se noordstreekbuurtwagte neem aan nasionale patrollie deel  

AfriForum se buurtwagte in die noordstreek (Gauteng, Limpopo en Mpumalanga) het op 30 Julie 2021 in hul onderskeie gebiede aan dié burgerregteorganisasie se nasionale patrollie deelgeneem om polisiëringsigbaarheid te verhoog. Die patrollie is in samewerking met die SAPD, plaaslike gemeenskapspolisiëringsforums, gemeenskapslede, verskeie sekuriteitsmaatskappye en ander veiligheidsinstansies aangepak.  

Altesaam 660 AfriForum-lede in Gauteng (331), Limpopo (81) en Mpumalanga (248) en 41 ander instansies het in totaal 30 169 km in 393 voertuie afgelê. Die patrollie het omstreeks 16:00 op Vrydag 30 Julie begin en tot 06:00 op Saterdag 31 Julie geduur.  

Die buurtwagte in Gauteng, wat met 191 voertuie ’n totaal van 13 900 km afgelê het,  het hulp verleen tydens 31 voorvalle in dié provinsie. Hierdie voorvalle sluit in die vastrek van roekelose en dronkbestuurders, die voorkoming van gewapende rooftogte en verskeie padblokkades waar mense vir die besit van dwelms in hegtenis geneem is.   

In Limpopo het 64 voertuie ’n totaal van 3 132 km tydens die patrollie afgelê. Hulp is ontbied ná huisbrake plaasgevind het, terwyl moontlike ander huisbrake ook voorkom is. Daar was ook ’n poging tot voertuigdiefstal wat suksesvol in samewerking met die SAPD gefnuik is.  

In Mpumalanga het 248 vrywilligers ’n totaal van 13 137 km afgelê en in samewerking met die SAPD en ander veiligheidsinstansies 15 voorvalle suksesvol hanteer.  

“Sigbaarheid speel ’n deurslaggewende rol in misdaadbekamping en AfriForum se noordstreekbuurtwagte sal voortdurend projekte aanpak en gereeld patrollies organiseer om misdaad in samewerking met die SAPD en ander veiligheidsinstansies hok te slaan,” sê Llewellynn Hemmens, AfriForum se veiligheidshoof vir die noordstreek. “Ek wil ook graag die volgende groepe bedank vir hulle bystand tydens hierdie patrollie en dat ons altyd op hulle samewerking kan staatmaak: Die Heritage Protection Group (HPG), die Rural Safety Police, die SAPD, onderskeie GPF-groepe, asook talle sekuriteitsmaatskappye.”  

Andries Opperman, AfriForum se provinsiale veiligheidskoördineerder vir Limpopo, het die buurtwaglede vir hulle onbaatsugtige diens bedank. “Ons sien deur aksies soos hierdie hoe gemeenskappe professioneel en gedissiplineerd – binne die raamwerk van die wet – eienaarskap van hulle eie veiligheid neem en doelgerig ’n netwerk van samewerking vestig om daardeur hulle voorspoedige voortbestaan te verseker. Misdadigers onttrek hulself van ’n gemeenskap wat sigbaar en paraat is en kan saamwerk.” 

“Nasionale patrollies het ’n groot impak op die bekamping van misdaad in die omgewing en daar word afnames in misdaad tydens hierdie operasies aangeteken. Dit speel ’n reuse rol om mense in die provinsie te beveilig,” sê Hennie Bekker, AfriForum se distrikskoördineerder vir die Laeveld.