The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the City of Johannesburg has written to the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)’s Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Public Safety, Cllr Dr Mgcini Tshwaku, to demand that he direct the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) to urgently implement the law on the JMPD’s role in strengthening Community Police Forms (CPFs) across the City of Johannesburg.
The crime statistics for the 4th quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year covering the period between January and March 2025, paint a grim picture pointing to a breakdown in relations between the police and the communities they serve. These crime statistics indicate that seven (7) of the country’s top 30 police stations that recorded the highest number of contact crimes are in the City of Johannesburg. A partnership between the police and the public is needed in order to bring down the levels of crime and to promote safer communities. Currently, the public’s hand is stretched out, but the City of Johannesburg keeps swatting it away.
The SAPS Amendment Act 83 of 1998 makes is clear that there is an obligation on the metro police to work alongside, and with CPF’s.
The fact that this MMC has disregarded the law in ensuring that the JMPD is represented at all CPFs established at each of the 43 police stations in the City isa gross dereliction of duty.Public safety is supposed to be the first duty and highest obligation of any responsible government, anywhere in the world. The City needs an MMC for Public Safety and an Executive Mayor who take seriously the safety and security interests of all its six million residents – not members of the Executive who seem determined to operate outside of the Constitution and the law.
It is for this reason that the DA has written to MMC Tshwaku requesting that he urgently implement the law on the role of the JMPD in promoting good relations between the police and all communities in the 43 policing precincts across the City of Johannesburg.