The Cluster Commander Overstrand, brigadier Donovan Heilbron of Hermanus, said he deployed himself to work closely with the Gansbaai SAPS station management to address the priority of Gansbaai and Pearly Beach, especially with regards to housebreakings.

“From the cluster, I have deployed myself to work closely with the station management to address this priority. Although we can see decreases and some stabilisation, we are continuing to address this threat,” he said in an interview with Gansbaai Courant.

He said deployments are done in line with crime patterns and trend analysis daily. As cluster commander, he has worked a few night shifts with law enforcements in this area. Part of their actions included the stop and searching of vehicles and road blocks.

In the detective environment, they are coordinating all cases to investigate with more focus to ensure better preparation of dockets to court. They are also working closely with the department of correctional services to ensure that they address parolees effectively, including their adherence to their parole conditions. SAPS are also integrating their efforts with Neighbourhood watches and local security companies operating in the areas.

Brigadier Heilbron also said: “We are however still experiencing challenges with the following: negligence of our house owners (several cases indicate that either windows or sliding doors are left open), alarms are not activated and unknown persons and vehicles are roaming the streets without reporting them to SAPS. We want to give all citizens the assurance that we will continue to work tirelessly to reduce the unacceptable level of crime in the affected areas. We also urge the community to be more vigilant and continue to be the ears and eyes of SAPS.”

The environmental design also remains a challenge, but that will not hamper the SAPS to deliver a professional and effective service to the various communities. Community members are invited to join neighbourhood watches and the GCPF (Gansbaai Community Police Forum).

Verantwoordelike gebruik van WhatsApp

Brigadier Heilbron het sy waardering uitgespreek teenoor buurtwagte se samewerking met die SAPD en WhatsApp boodskappe wat uitgestuur word.

Hy het egter terselfdertyd daarna verwys dat sodanige boodskappe deurgaans met groot omsigtigheid en verantwoordelikheid gepaard moet gaan.

Hy het onder andere na ‘n onlangse WhatsApp bood-skap verwys waarin daar na komende geweldadige optredes tydens protesoptogte verwys word. (Die fyner besonderhede van die bood-skap word weens veiligheidsredes nie gepubliseer nie.) Wat wel van belang is, is dat die geldigheid van die inhoud van die boodskap nie deur Gansbaai SAPD se speurtak bevestig kon word nie.

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