Community policing was a key factor in fighting urban terror in Mitchell’s Plain and the broader Cape Flats. These were the sentiments shared during a surprise farewell for Mitchell’s Plain police station commander Brigadier Cass Goolam, who retires at the end of the week.
It was hosted by the Cape Flats Safety Forum at Alliance Française, in Portland, on Saturday September 24.
Brigadier Goolam sat alongside retired Anti-Gang Unit boss Major General Andre Lincoln and former Western Cape detective boss Major General Jeremy Vearey, to whom he attributed his success.
“I’ve never learned in my whole career what I’ve learned under you,” he said to his mentor who was once also Mitchell’s Plain police station commander.
“All of your ideas were never in line with the standing orders, instructions and prescripts but they delivered the goods. They also bridged the gap between ourselves and the community. At the same time you never forgot the personnel,” said Brigadier Goolam.
He said the way to beat the gangs was to act according to “their law, that is the law they understand”.
He said a deep dialogue among SAPS Western Cape management was needed to understand gang violence.
Cape Flats Safety Forum chairman Abie Isaacs commended Brigadier Goolam for the work he did for the people of Mitchell’s Plain and the country.
The non-profit organisation based in Mitchell’s Plain has 150 members, from beyond its borders, including Parow, Manenberg, Lavender Hill and Hanover Park.
Mr Isaacs, a former Mitchell’s Plain community police forum (CPF) chairman, said they were not in competition with any other organisation.
“As a legislated body (that is the CPF) we were restricted. We did oversight but we needed to get information to the community,” he said.
The forum is lobbying and advocating to SAPS Western Cape to have both major generals reinstated in the police service.
“We need them to come back because they have a common understanding of the gang culture,” he said.
Mr Isaacs referred to the gang warfare on the Cape Flats as urban terror and that that police needed fearless leaders who were going to make tough decisions.
Forum secretary Lynn Phillips thanked Major General Vearey and Brigadier Goolam for being interested in the well being of the community.
“We appreciate you, for what you did in Mitchell’s Plain. We miss the days when we walk the streets. When we closed-down drug dealers,” she said.
She feared that, with the trio no longer fighting crime in the area, gangsterism would take over.
“Our people are so in love with gang activity that they even forget to give the information because they are controlled by their controlling because of socio- economic circumstances. They are hiding the guns and having the things (drugs),” she said.
Ms Phillips said they needed people in SAPS with the aspirations of the community at heart.
“Great leaders who can lead us in that fashion. We are saying engagement. We will mobilise to have you back in this Western Cape police service to ensure that we have safety and security in our communities,” she said.
Lieutenant Colonel Harry Brickles, Lentegeur police station’s visible policing commander, said the community was sad to be losing Brigadier Goolam.
“There is nothing greater than having to work with the community because as police we realise we cannot do it on our own.
“We need the partnership of the community,” he said.