Fighting crime together: Northern Cape Crime Indaba charts path for safer communities

A TWO-DAY Crime Indaba hosted in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District wrapped up this week with renewed resolve to fight crime in the Northern Cape and unite communities behind the vision of a safer province for all.

Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Thabo Litabe said the small town of Mothibistad became the heart of a province-wide movement, as police leaders, government officials, community policing forums, organisations and industry representatives came together for a no-nonsense look at the province’s most pressing crime challenges. 

The event was hosted by provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Koliswa Otola and the MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Limakatso Koloi.

The Crime Indaba set out to boost morale, strengthen unity, and spark meaningful dialogue around crime prevention strategies - focusing on building safer communities and tackling crime head-on across the province.

With gender-based violence, crimes against children, school safety, and law enforcement collaboration high on the agenda, the Indaba aimed to tackle crime at its roots. The focus wasn’t just on policing - it was on prevention, partnership, and getting every sector of society to pull their weight.

Participants took part in three focused commissions that drilled into key issues:

• Commission 1 zoomed in on gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), including hate crimes, contact crimes, extortion, and trafficking.
• Commission 2 examined crimes in and around schools, including school safety, learner transport and the sexual abuse of minors.
• Commission 3 explored integrated crime prevention strategies, emphasising the role of local government, community safety forums, and the enforcement of municipal by-laws.

What emerged was a clear call: fighting crime in the Northern Cape cannot be left to police alone. Participants agreed that local governments must be more active and accountable, while community structures and forums must be empowered to take on a proactive role in crime prevention.

While the Indaba sparked tough conversations, it also delivered a sense of unity and shared purpose. The keynote address on Day 1 by MEC Koloi challenged delegates to move beyond talk and build practical strategies - with a sharp focus on addressing gender-based violence and femicide.

“The challenge with GBVF is that it often occurs within the privacy of our homes, making it extremely difficult to police. We must therefore strengthen our prevention and education programmes to act as a first line of defence,” she said.

On Day 2, concerns were raised over the slow pace of local government involvement, but Lieutenant-General Otola made it clear: a concrete, time-bound Programme of Action is expected by the end of June. Until then, departments must get to work on their respective mandates.

MEC Koloi closed the event with a firm pledge: to rally broader government support for these initiatives and ensure that the spirit of collaboration endures beyond the Indaba. Praising the SAPS for their dedication, she urged all sectors - public and private - to keep building trust and working hand-in-hand with communities.

The theme of the gathering - community policing through trust, collaboration and empowerment - now moves from the conference hall to the streets, where the real work begins.