Tokyo
Masindi
 
The
mission of the Gauteng Department of Community Safety is to enhance public
safety in the province. This is achieved through monitoring and evaluating
policing agencies’ effectiveness and efficiency, implementing and promoting
social crime prevention initiatives, providing traffic management services,
coordinating efforts in the criminal justice system, educating and empowering
citizens on public safety issues, coordinating community safety initiatives,
improving police-community relations, and determining community policing needs
and priorities under the Constitution.
 
In
line with this mission, communities across Gauteng are taking the initiative by
participating in the social movement against crime. These initiatives include
Community Policing Forums (CPFs), Youth Desks, Men as Safety Promoters, GBV
Brigades, and more.
 
The
Gauteng Youth Crime Prevention Desks are volunteer-based structures located at
police stations within the province. These desks encourage and enable young
people to actively participate in identifying the causes of youth violence and
crime, and to collaborate in creating social crime prevention strategies for
their communities.
 
Recognising
that young people in South Africa are both victims and perpetrators of crime,
the Youth Crime Prevention Desks (YCPDs) in Gauteng mobilise and involve young
people in violence and crime prevention interventions. Mainly composed of youth
aged 18 to 27, these volunteer-based structures work closely with relevant
stakeholders to address youth violence and crime.
 
One
of the core mandates of the Department is to foster working relations between
the police and communities. Community Policing Forums (CPFs) play a crucial
role in this aspect by bringing the police and the community together to
address crime-related challenges collaboratively.
 
The
Men as Safety Promoters (MASP) program is an initiative by the Gauteng
Department of Community Safety aimed at combating crimes committed by men
against women and children. This program provides another avenue through which
communities can participate in the fight against crime.
 
Additionally,
the department conducts crime awareness outreach programs through its
communication services unit to educate communities about crime prevention
efforts.