Ntuli lauds grassroots crime fighters in Harry Gwala District
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has expressed admiration for the commitment shown by volunteer community safety members who continue to play a vital role in the fight against crime across the province.
Ntuli was addressing crime prevention volunteers at Riverview Community Hall in Ward 10, situated within the Greater Kokstad Local Municipality in the Harry Gwala District Municipality. During his keynote speech on Tuesday, the Premier acknowledged the essential contribution these structures make in bolstering the work of law enforcement and reinforcing crime prevention at a community level.
"The provincial government applauds your spirit of volunteerism. We urge you to continue working within the prescripts of the law. Your main responsibility is to ensure that our communities are, and feel safe and protected."
The Premier called on ordinary residents to step up and take ownership of the battle against all forms of criminal activity. He placed special emphasis on the scourge of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), alongside a worrying surge in kidnapping incidents within the region. Ntuli stressed that heightened vigilance, more consistent reporting of criminal behaviour, and deeper cooperation between communities and policing agencies are all necessary to tackle these threats head-on.
Integrity and professionalisation at the forefront
Beyond encouraging greater community involvement, the Premier also turned his attention to the internal workings of volunteer safety formations. Ntuli underscored the critical importance of rigorous screening and vetting procedures to guard against infiltration by criminal elements. He warned that preserving the integrity of these bodies is fundamental to earning and maintaining public confidence, as well as ensuring their operations remain effective.
Ntuli reaffirmed the KwaZulu-Natal government's ongoing pledge to invest in the development and professionalisation of community safety structures. This commitment includes the provision of targeted training programmes, adequate resources, and institutional backing designed to sharpen their capabilities and improve their impact on the ground.
The Kokstad gathering forms part of a broader provincial drive to embed community-centred crime prevention strategies, ensuring that residents are not merely bystanders but active participants in making their neighbourhoods safer. The initiative recognises that sustainable safety cannot be achieved by law enforcement alone, but requires meaningful partnership between government and the people it serves.
