Cape Forum presents Op-die-berg community with safety equipment

The civil rights organisation Cape Forum held a follow-up workshop on 11 November with a new network partner to discuss future collaborations in community safety. Safety equipment was also presented and a local but abandoned police station in Op-die-berg was visited.

Cape Forum, the group, Educatio, and community leaders visited the abandoned police station at Op-die-berg. Cape Forum undertakes to further investigate why police services have been suspended in this agricultural community. As an interim measure, Cape Forum and AfriForum’s community safety has undertaken to offer training to the local neighbourhood watch. As a first step, Cape Forum presented the Op-die-berg neighbourhood watch with safety equipment.

“We are extremely excited about the possibilities that exist by providing training to the local community safety structures,” says Tommy van Zyl, Coordinator for the Cape Forum.

“Cooperation and liaison between communities, especially sharing safety information is a very important aspect in communities. The ability to coordinate between communities, especially where state decline has already taken place, is currently a non-negotiable requirement for a safe and stable society,” says Bernard Pieters, associated with the Cape Forum.

This situation, where the state fails to provide basic protection services such as the SAPS to this agricultural community, once again shows the need to devolve power from an kakistocratic government to the provincial level. We encourage other communities to contact us if they have a similar need where the Cape Forum can serve as a platform for community self-reliance and help make growing autonomy a practical and sustainable reality.

Become involved today and help make a difference. Send an email to info@kaapseforum.co.za or join by visiting www.kaapseforum.co.za.