Restoring trust between communities and police is vital

This breakdown in trust creates perfect conditions for criminal elements to thrive

- THULANI NGWENYA

THE fractured relationship between communities and police especially in high-crime areas is undermining our collective safety, as was recently demonstrated by the attack on police officers attempting to arrest a drug suspect in Westbury, Johannesburg, last week.

Attacks on police are completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. These acts of violence, often perpetrated by individuals disguising themselves as community members, undermine the safety and security of our neighbourhoods. Communities must stand together in rejecting such behaviour and refusing to be represented by unelected individuals who engage in crime and distort the truth.

But the incident in Westbury is not isolated. It reflects a dangerous pattern where police officers face hostility in the very communities they serve. This breakdown in trust creates perfect conditions for criminal elements to thrive, allowing them the room needed to tighten their grip, expand their reach, and terrorise our neighbourhoods with impunity.

It is a harsh reality that effective policing cannot exist without community trust. When residents view officers as adversaries rather than allies, criminal intelligence dries up, investigations stall, and criminals gain the upper hand. Every stone thrown at a police officer thus represents a victory for the drug dealers and gangsters who profit from obstructions in policing duties and the path of justice.