Minister calls on Provincial Commissioner to give CPF elections the green light

Minister Fritz calls on Provincial Commissioner to give CPF elections the green light

The Minister of Community Safety, Albert Fritz, notes that the Acting Provincial Commissioner, Sindile Mfazi, has given a direct instruction to Station Commanders that Community Policing Forum (CPF) elections should not go ahead. Minister Fritz is calling for the Acting Commissioner to immediately revoke the instruction.

This follows the Deputy Provincial Commissioner, Major General Manci, and the Provincial Electoral Officer for the Western Cape, Reverend Courtney Sampson; officially pledging their support to the directives on 5 September 2019. The signing of the directives marked the official beginning of the CPF elections to be held at AGMs across the province between September and December 2019.

Minister Fritz said, “As result of the direct instruction given to all SAPS Station Commanders, by the Acting Provincial Commissioner, namely that they ‘should not proceed with elective Annual General Meeting (AGMs)’, the Department of Community Safety cannot continue to officiate over such AGMs until the instruction is withdrawn (SAPS Letter under reference 26/3/5/2 dated 29 October 2019).”

“The message sent to CPFs stating that the Department of Community Safety is withdrawing its support of CPFs is untrue and an attempt to divide the Department from CPFs at the station level. The Department of Community Safety’s decision to withdraw from AGM’s is temporary and only in response to the instruction given by the Acting Provincial Commissioner”, said Minister Fritz.

Minister Fritz further added, “The Department of Community Safety has requested, at the highest levels, that the SAPS leadership urgently find an amicable solution. CPFs are, by law, required to be ‘inclusive’ of all legitimate community structures. It is unfortunate that the dysfunctionality of a few CPF structures has now impacted on all other CPFs.”

Under the leadership of Minister Fritz, the Department of Community Safety remains committed to facilitating and overseeing successful CPF elections throughout the Province.

Attention broadcasters, please find English audio clip attached.