Please allow me to inform the community as to what exactly the CPF – Community Police Forum is.
I have included Section 18 of the Police Service Act as reference.
The sole purpose of any CPF is to establish and maintain a forum where the community and the SAPS can meet.
No-one can be forced to join, and no-one can be excluded based on their race, political affiliation or faith.
The Police Service Act does not bestow any special privileges or powers of arrest / stopping and searching of vehicles/persons upon a member of public just because he participates in the forum.
Also take note of Section 18(2) – The CPF is not the only platform where the community and the police can meet.
YOU DON”T NEED TO APPLY TO JOIN THE CPF – AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO ATTEND MEETINGS OF THE COMMUNITY POLICE FORUM. DON’T LET THEM FOOL YOU INTO SIGNING ANY KIND OF DOCUMENTS IN ORDER TO “JOIN” THE CPF.
South African Police Service Act
CHAPTER 7.
COMMUNITY POLICE FORUMS AND BOARDS.
Objects of community police forums and boards
18. (I) The Service shall, in order to achieve the objects contemplated in section 215 of the Constitution, liaise with the community through community police forums and area and provincial community police boards, in accordance with sections 19, 20 and 21, with a view to-
(a) establishing and maintaining a partnership between the community and the Service;
(b) promoting communication between the Service and the community;
(c) promoting co-operation between the Service and the community in fulfilling the needs of the community regarding policing;
(d) · improving the rendering of police services to the community at national, provincial, area and local levels;
(e) improving transparency in the Service and accountability of the Service to the community; and
(f) promoting joint problem identification and problem-solving by the Service and the community.
(2) This Chapter shall not preclude liaison by the Service with the community by means other than through community police forums and boards.