Mogale City has taken a decisive step to strengthen public safety and promote collaborative governance with the launch of the West Rand’s first Community Safety Forum (CSF), led by Community Safety MMC Francis Makgatho and Executive Mayor Lucky Sele.
The CSF brings together local government, the South African Police Service, Community Policing Forums, ward committees, faith-based organisations, civic groups, businesses, and residents to collectively analyse, respond to, and monitor safety challenges. By aligning efforts across sectors, the forum will coordinate and integrate crime prevention initiatives aimed at improving quality of life across communities.
The CSF’s core objectives include:
• Coordinating planning and implementation of safety initiatives
• Strengthening community participation in crime prevention strategies
• Creating a platform for joint problem-solving between government and residents
• Serving as a monitoring and accountability structure for inclusive, effective safety programmes
Speaking at the launch, Mayor Sele stressed the need for united action: “Mogale residents must feel safe in their homes, and businesses must have the confidence to operate 24 hours a day. We will not allow crime to define us, nor fear to lead us, and we will not outsource our safety to anyone else.” He added that the CSF was established not out of convenience but necessity – to coordinate, collaborate, and confront crime as one united front.
Formed within the Intergovernmental Relations framework, the CSF does not replace Community Policing Forums or other existing structures, but rather complements and strengthens them, improving coordination within municipal boundaries.
The launch underscores Mogale City’s commitment to proactive, community-driven safety solutions. By uniting residents, law enforcement, government departments, and civic organisations, the CSF ensures safety is not only a municipal priority but a shared responsibility.