Bheki Cele has held a neighbourhood meeting at his home in uMhlanga to discuss a way to fight crime in the area.
|||Durban - Former national police commissioner Bheki Cele has held a neighbourhood meeting at his home in uMhlanga, near Durban, to discuss a way to fight crime in the area, it was reported on Friday.
Cele convened the meeting this week, and more than 100 concerned residents showed up at his home, The Times reported.
Cele convinced residents to stand together to fight crime in the area and said they should hold another meeting to formulate a strategy for taking on criminals.
The area's community policing forum chairman Hayden Searles told the newspaper the feedback was positive.
“Though our crime rate remains constant, it is high. There has been an increase in housebreakings in the last month,” he said.
“I don't think Cele is being an alarmist or trying to gain popularity by getting involved. From what I am told, the meeting was handled well and he is echoing the policing forum's sentiments.”
Last month, thieves broke into Cele's garage. They drank a bottle of expensive whisky found in one of the cars, and stole valuables and two other bottles of whisky valued at R1000 each.
Searles said the forum would be “pleased” to work with Cele, but said he could not operate “like a lone ranger”.
Democratic Alliance ward councillor Heinz de Boer welcomed Cele's community participation.
“We need to recognise that he might offer valuable expertise. He is still very connected and has influence, which might be a good thing.” - Sapa