PATROLLING WITH PURPOSE
A unified effort to keep our streets safe
Rustenburg – On Friday 20 September 2024, the Rustenburg Community Police Forum (CPF) Executive Committee organised a mass patrol focused on crime prevention and visibility. The event, led by CPF EXCO treasurer Rassie Byliefeldt, kicked off at 18:00 and continued throughout the night until 06:00 the next morning. Participants gathered at an open field on the corner of Kruger and Bult streets, where they were briefed by Rustenburg SAPS station commander brigadier Joël Pheto and CPF acting executive chairperson Marcus Haasbroek. Several security companies, including Fidelity ADT, Phemela Mmanape Security, and Blue Hawk Tactical, joined the patrol, along with local crime-fighting groups like AfriForum Buurtwag, Rustenburg Crime Combatting Forum, and the CPF from Tlhabane. A drone pilot from Cortac was also on hand to provide aerial support.
“The evening was a success,” said Haasbroek. “We had a total of 150 people patrolling on Friday.”
Evotel, a key sponsor of the CPF in Rustenburg, was also present at the patrol. Matthew Mpete, Evotel’s public relations representative, remarked, “We’ve been working with Rustenburg CPF for quite some time. We are happy they are looking after the community because it’s our priority.”
As the patrol moved out in convoy, community members and security teams scoured various areas of Rustenburg, including Rustenburg Noord and Safari Gardens. The efforts paid off, resulting in the arrest of five individuals.
Brigadier Joël Pheto, in his briefing, emphasised the importance of their collective efforts: “Your dedication and passion for making Rustenburg safe is not going unnoticed. Together we will do more. We know our challenges in Rustenburg, and tonight we are here to prevent the common crimes, including burglaries in our residential areas.”
Rassie Byliefeldt provided a detailed summary of the night’s patrol, noting the extensive coverage. “We patrolled from Kruger and Bult streets to the R24, along Rex road, through Kroondal, and even to Shingwedzi Club. Roadblocks were set up in Safari Gardens, and it was encouraging to see such great support from the community, SAPS, and our security partners,” he said. The event’s success highlights the strength of Rustenburg’s community and their commitment to combat crime together.
