- The Elsies River Community Policing Forum (ERCPF) has led a series of interventions to address the rise in gang violence in the area.
- These efforts include joint operations with local law enforcement, neighborhood watch groups, and community members.
- The initiatives have been met with overwhelming support from the community, resulting in several arrests and increased safety.
“We can and we will take Elsies River back.”
These are the words of Hamish Arries, chair of the Elsies River Community Policing forum (ERCPF) after they, with the help of other stakeholders, embarked on a series of interventions in response to the surge in gang violence that has turned the Cape Flats into a war zone.
“Elsies River has always been a remarkable community in the way we respond to challenges, and the most effective response to the surge of violence in our area is to unite our community. Despite inclement weather under the leadership of the ERCPF we have embarked on a number of very successful joint operations which included all our active NHW’s, our Community in Blue patrollers, the police, law enforcement and metro police and on some operations even the Provincial Community Policing Board joined in,” said Arries.
Praise
Arries went further to praise the work done by newly appointed NHW coordinator Rico Farland and Community in Blue coordinator, Joshua Jackson.
Farland who was recently appointed said he is grateful for the welcome the community gave them.
said Farland.
Jackson expressed similar sentiments.
“We have had remarkable successes and the gratitude of the community has been so overwhelming. Businesses in Halt Road are begging us to patrol on a daily basis as they felt so much safer when we are around.
“Last week the Pakistani Business Forum even invited us for lunch as a gesture of gratitude.
“We have highlighted awareness of smash-and-grabs with motorists and commuters on our patrols and have made numerous arrests during the course of the 10 months that we’ve been on patrol. We have contributed to numerous arrests of perpetrators.
“This past Friday alone we arrested seven suspects at three different locations, as they were robbing commuters on the Halt Road corridor,” said Jackson.
