‘Police-officers using police-vehicles to do their shopping’ :
-- Speaking on the number of officers seen using police vehicles to do shopping, Bill, also a resident, asked the station commander what was being done to monitor officers and how he can get members of the EMPD to be outside schools in the area to protect the children from speeding parents.
“We have the AVL which in your language is a tracker but we call it AVL. If you see a motor vehicle parked at the road side in the wrong place you can phone us,” Lt Col Mailula.
-- Bill also asked how he can get members of the EMPD to be outside schools in the area to protect the children from speeding parents when there is always a group of officers pulling people over for talking on their cellular telephones just a few blocks away. His second question was answered by Superintendent Gwen Gina from the metropolitan-police, the EMPD. “One of the duties of the EMPD is to enforce the National Road Traffic Act and this remains one of our major duties. We help the SAPS on operations too,” Supt Gina said.
-- Lindsay, a 21-year-old Edenvale resident, said that she would like to know how she can help as a 21-year-old in the community. “Yes we pay taxes but we are not involved in helping out,” Lindsay said. Mr Quintine Ndaba from the MEC for Community Safety’s Office said that in his view ‘one cannot just smile if they are a prisoner in their own homes: We cannot criticise without assistance. Your role as the EMPD is not only traffic laws but also visible policing and crime prevention,” he said in response to Supt Gina.
-- I feel safer living in Soweto… the area of Edenvale is under siege: One resident then stood up to correct Mr Ndaba, saying that every time she needed assistance, the metro police were there – but not the SAPS. “The SAPS is busy picking up and dropping off people. They are a taxi service while the EMPD was there to assist,” the resident said. Mr Ndaba replied: “We are all touched by the murders. In the words of the MEC, the area of Edenvale is under siege,” Mr Ndaba said while the residents applauded. “If you do not get help, come to my department,” he urged. “I live in Soweto and feel safer living in Soweto. Do you know why? Because we as a community joined hands and said enough is enough. “Know your neighbour. If something happens they must be able to assist,” he added.
Before the closing of the meeting, Lt Col Roberts addressed the community. “I do not live in Edenvale. I live in Kempton Park. I also do not know when I will receive the call that my house was broken into. So I have put security measures in place. “Everyone reads about the murders but did you read the crime tips published in the Bedfordview Edenvale NEWS? The crime tips are not simply sucked out of our thumbs they are based on crime trends in the area,” Lt Col Roberts said. He added the SAPS has regular operations to ensure the safety of the community.
Links, background, history of Edenvale:
http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/bedfordview-edenvale/bedfordview-edenvale-news-crime?oid=4831483&sn=Detail&pid=217409&Edenvale-double-murder-goes-to-trial
http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/bedfordview-edenvale/bedfordview-edenvale-news-general?oid=3878630&sn=Detail&pid=217413&Crime-meeting-gets-emotional
http://www.censorbugbear-reports.blogspot.com/
