George imbizos spotlight safety concerns

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GEORGE NEWS - A series of community imbizos convened by the Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, across the George policing area drew residents from Pacaltsdorp, Thembalethu, George and Conville to engage directly with the government, the police and the George Municipality on crime and service delivery.

Held in partnership with the police and the Garden Route District Municipality, these engagements formed part of the department's stated commitment to strengthen co-operative governance, enhance accountability and rebuild trust between communities and the police.

Pacaltsdorp: Tensions and trust deficit

The series began in Pacaltsdorp, where long-standing grievances relating to police inefficiencies and the dissolution of the previous CPF surfaced. The meeting was brought to an abrupt close following persistent disruptions, and the officials emphasised that structured engagement is necessary to allow the police to respond comprehensively.

The department asked the residents to submit their grievances in writing to ensure proper assessment.

Members of the Hoogekraal Neighbourhood Watch. From left to right: Blanche Benjamin, Raylene Simeon, Mario Alaart, Willie-John van Niekerk, Rozetté Katzen and Eugene Britz.

Thembalethu: Call for a satellite station

Residents raised their concerns about slow response times, resource shortages and the distance to the existing police station. Strong calls were made for a satellite station to serve the rapidly growing population.

Broader service delivery complaints were directed to provincial and municipal leadership. Community patrollers and neighbourhood watch members requested greater recognition for their role in crime prevention. The officials confirmed that all complaints had been formally recorded for follow-up.

Premier Alan Winde addressing the public at the Thembalethu imbizo on Monday, 23 February

George: Infrastructure under strain

During the civic centre session, the residents highlighted under-resourced policing services, including the satellite station in Wilderness, where basic services are unavailable at times due to limited resources.

Additional concerns included poor after-hours traffic enforcement, particularly regarding drinking and driving, and rural safety officers covering vast farming areas without vehicles. The condition of the police control room, including malfunctioning telephones and staffing shortages, was deemed unacceptable.

Safety along the railway line and green corridors was flagged as urgent, with residents citing criminal activity and uncertainty over land ownership hindering enforcement.

At the imbizo held at the Civic Centre on Tuesday 24 February. Back: Warrant Officer Michael Opperman, Rupert Pretorius (CPF George's chairperson), Captain Judy Hartnick, Captain Deon Floris, the Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marias, Colonel Lionel Kennedy, Anthony Luff (CPF treasurer), Brigadier Belinda Pather and Colonel Chris Meiring. Front: Timothy Luff (Dormehl's Drift NHW, CPF and CIB).
Photo: Marguerite van Ginkel

Conville: School safety and youth crime

The final session in Conville focused heavily on school safety and children in conflict with the law.

The residents reported underage youths carrying weapons, intimidation in neighbourhoods and indications that children are being drawn into organised gang activity.

Education officials said safe schools remain a priority and committed to collaborative, preventative interventions. The police encouraged the residents to report specific allegations of corruption or poor investigations to enable action.

Marais emphasised that true accountability to residents will only be realised if the concerns raised are meaningfully addressed and if ongoing, constructive engagement between communities and the police continues to be facilitated.

Kurt Nedft, Acting Media Liaison Officer to Minister Anroux Marais and and Vuyani Mbaqa, the deputy director of Police Oversight and Community Safety