Community Safety Unit established in the Midlands
Last weekend, the AfriForum branch in the Midlands brought together a team of volunteers to establish a Community Safety Unit for this part of KwaZulu-Natal. The unit consists of a farm and neighborhood watch and has already enlisted 25 community members to patrol the area.
According to Albert Jooste, Leader of AfriForum’s Community Safety Unit in the Midlands, the civil rights organization will provide the community members with the necessary equipment and training so that they can act quickly and efficiently during emergencies. These farm and neighborhood watch teams will also work closely with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to secure the area.
AfriForum already serves on the SAPS’ Rural Community Safety Forum and is part of the Provincial Rural Safety Plan. Nevertheless, AfriForum’s Midlands branch will soon set up a repeater to make a radio network available to its members both on farms and in towns. “This will not only improve communication in the region, but also serve as an extra layer of safety in emergency situations,” says Oric Pretorius, chairman of AfriForum’s Midlands branch.
Residents who would like to get involved in AfriForum’s community safety unit in the Midlands can contact the branch at 082 426 9524 or 082 458 1966, or send an e-mail to voorsitter.midlands@afriforumtak.co.za.
