AfriForum today started negotiations for a Memorandum of Understanding between their organisation and the Gauteng Community Safety Department, with the MEC of Community Safety in the province, Ms Sizakele Emelda Nkosi-Malobane. AfriForum is establishing community safety networks in communities across South Africa, enabling communities to safeguard themselves, and the organisation wants to expand this in Gauteng. The Memorandum will consist of guidelines as to how the Department and AfriForum’s safety networks can help each other in crime emergency situations.
 
“We want to promote community structures so that we can support the Police to protect South Africans where the hands and resources of the SAPS are lacking. The MEC has also given the undertaking to attend to the two month long violent protests in Magaliesburg,” Ian Cameron, Head of Community Safety at AfriForum said.
 
According to Cameron, Ms Nkosi-Malobane confirmed that she will on an urgent basis meet with the MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in Gauteng, Mr Jacob Mamabolo regarding the unrest spurred on by political interference.
 
Ms Nkosi-Malobane is – according to AfriForum - the first community safety officer on senior level in Gauteng who wants find practical solutions in combating crime, whilst getting the community involved without red tape.
 
“We have to make sure that policies that are not implemented correctly do not keep communities from becoming involved. The more participation we have, the better. It’s all about crime combating,” Ms Nkosi-Malobane said.
 
AfriForum has great expectations to safeguard communities even more effective, following today’s talks with the MEC and her team.