Ikageng, a large township adjacent to Potchefstroom, has its own Community Policing Forum that operates in tandem with the local Ikageng SAPS station. The Ikageng CPF was similarly established in the mid-1990s under the SAPS Act’s mandate for community policing structures. It focuses on the unique safety challenges in Ikageng’s residential areas.

Key developments in the Ikageng CPF’s history include:

 Figure: Timeline of key milestones for the Ikageng CPF (1995–2024).

• 1990s: Formation of the Ikageng CPF as a community-police liaison body. Like other CPFs, it emerged from post-apartheid reforms to build trust between police and historically underserved communities.

• 2016: Heightened crime prevention efforts. Ikageng SAPS and CPF “declared war” on crime in the township in 2016, organizing visible campaigns. In May 2016, the CPF (led by Secretary Tebogo Medupe) and Ikageng police held a street outreach (blitz) in Lekhele Street, distributing pamphlets on domestic violence, sexual offenses, drug abuse, and burglary prevention​ ​citizen.co.za. The CPF urged the community to unite against crime and reported a positive response from residents. Around the same time, the Ikageng CPF participated in a major “de-bushing” initiative to clear overgrown areas used by criminals to ambush pedestrians​. This project, done with the municipality and other departments, sent a strong message that criminals “have nowhere to hide” in Ikageng​.

• 2018: Continued community outreach. The Ikageng CPF organized a rural safety awareness campaign (with support from the North West Department of Community Safety) focusing on outlying areas of Ikageng and nearby communities. Funding of R38,500 was provided for this initiative, which was successfully implemented to educate residents on protecting themselves and their property​ provincialgovernment.co.za.

• 2019: CPF elections and reorganization. Around this period, new members were elected to lead the Ikageng CPF (CPF elections generally align with five-year cycles). The CPF strengthened its collaboration with ward councilors and youth groups to broaden its community reach.

• 2022: Multi-faceted awareness programs. The Ikageng CPF ran notable campaigns including a housebreaking prevention campaign and events during the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence​ dcstm.nwpg.gov.za. These programs, funded by provincial community safety grants, involved workshops and door-to-door visits. The CPF spent about R40k on these community initiatives, indicating significant on-the-ground activity and reporting back on their outcomes to the authorities​.

  
  

• 2024: New CPF Executive Committee (2024–2029) elected. In late 2024, the Ikageng community elected a fresh CPF leadership for the next term. Mr. Neo Motshabi was appointed as the CPF Chairperson​ facebook.com, with a team of deputies and officers: Ms. Palesa Mafoko became Secretary​ (she had been active in updating CPF communications), Mr. Frans Khalipha took on the Treasurer role, and Mr. Mbali Manyelwa became the Public Relations Officer (PRO)​. This handover was announced via the CPF’s Facebook group and signified a rejuvenation of CPF efforts going into 2025.

Members and Structure

The Ikageng CPF Executive Committee consists of volunteers from the community elected to key positions, often including a Chairperson, Deputy Chair, Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Treasurer, and Public Relations Officer. SAPS officers from Ikageng police station also sit in CPF meetings as liaisons.

The current and past members of note include:

Organization: The Ikageng CPF often operates through sector-based sub-forums as well, corresponding to different zones or wards in Ikageng. Each sector has representatives that bring local issues to the CPF monthly meeting. This ensures diverse areas like Sarafina, Top City, Ext. 7, etc., all have a voice. The CPF’s structure is designed to mirror that of Potchefstroom, but tailored to Ikageng’s community dynamics (e.g., stronger focus on youth engagement and street committee involvement).

Contact Information

For Ikageng residents, the CPF is accessible through community meetings and direct contact channels. Key contact information and platforms include:

Because internet access can be limited for some residents, the Ikageng CPF also disseminates information through word-of-mouth and postings at spaza shops, schools, and churches. The CPF committee members’ phone numbers are often shared at meetings so community members can reach them directly in emergencies or to volunteer.

Initiatives and Community Engagement

Ikageng CPF’s activities center on crime prevention, community education, and bridging the gap between police and the township residents. Highlights of their initiatives and engagements include:

• Street Patrols and Visibility: The CPF has organized joint police-community patrols in high-crime areas. The 2016 Lekhele Street crime awareness blitz saw CPF members and police officers handing out flyers on common crimes and encouraging residents not to walk alone at night​ citizen.co.za​. They addressed onlookers via loudhailers about how to anonymously report crime​. This visible presence not only spread information but also built trust, locals saw police and CPF patrolling side by side. CPF sector teams have also coordinated night patrols (“CPF eyes and ears” campaigns) in response to spikes in robberies.

• Public Awareness Campaigns: Ikageng CPF has been active in awareness campaigns targeting prevalent issues:

  • Anti-Substance Abuse: Collaborating with schools and churches, the CPF has run sessions on the dangers of drug abuse, which is a noted problem among the youth. In one campaign (supported by provincial safety department funds), they focused on advocacy against assault, GBH (grievous bodily harm), and bullying, indicating outreach in schools​provincialgovernment.co.za​.

  • Housebreaking Prevention: In 2022, with burglary rates high, the CPF held workshops teaching residents how to better secure their homes (e.g., forming street watches, improving lighting, whistle alerts). This Housebreaking Awareness Campaign was formally noted in the NW Community Safety Department reports as successfully executed with most of its budget utilized​dcstm.nwpg.gov.za.

  • Gender-Based Violence (GBV): During the annual 16 Days of Activism (late Nov to Dec), the CPF teams up with local NGOs to hold community dialogues on domestic violence and sexual offenses. Pamphlets with emergency numbers for shelters and SAPS victim support were distributed. In one year’s campaign, the CPF reached multiple extensions of Ikageng, aligning with national efforts to combat GBV ​dcstm.nwpg.gov.za.

• Problem-Solving Partnerships: The Ikageng CPF often identifies environmental and social risk factors contributing to crime and works to address them. For instance, the CPF flagged overgrown bushes between Sarafina and Ext.7 as crime hotspots (sites of muggings and assaults). In response, they partnered with the Community Safety Forum and municipality in a cleanup operation: cutting down bush and improving the lighting in that area​ citizen.co.za​. CPF volunteers joined municipal workers and even offenders (via the Department of Correctional Services) in this public safety project. This collaborative approach removed hiding places for criminals and was praised by officials as a model of “situational crime prevention” driven by CPF input.

• Youth and School Engagement: Recognizing that youth are both victims and perpetrators of some crimes, the CPF established a Youth Desk (a subcommittee) in recent years. They run school talks on crime and responsibility. “Ke Tsaya Maikarabelo” (SeTswana for “I take responsibility”) was one such youth campaign noted in NW Provincial reports ​dcstm.nwpg.gov.za, aimed at instilling accountability among young people. The CPF Youth Desk also organizes sports against crime events – for example, township soccer tournaments with anti-crime messaging, to keep young people constructively engaged.

• Crime Reporting & Conflict Resolution: The Ikageng CPF has improved channels for residents to report crime or police misconduct. CPF meetings often include a forum where residents can raise complaints about police response times or community disputes. The CPF executive then follows up with the station commander. Tebogo Medupe (former secretary) stated that the CPF’s goal is a “problem-solving partnership between the community and the police”, urging unity in fighting crime ​citizen.co.za. The result has been better information flow – e.g., after CPF encouragement, tip-offs about drug dens and wanted suspects in Ikageng increased, leading to successful police operations.

Notably, Ikageng CPF’s efforts have yielded tangible results. Police officials have remarked improvements: Constable Morwa Mahery-Moshou, a sector commander, lauded how CPF awareness drives led more community members to report crimes anonymously​ citizen.co.za. This illustrates increased trust in the CPF and police.

Local media (the Potchefstroom Herald and community radio) regularly cover Ikageng CPF initiatives, such as community clean-up campaigns tagged “Criminals have nowhere to hide”​ citizen.co.za. These stories highlight positive outcomes like safer pathways for schoolchildren and the arrest of suspects thanks to CPF-provided intel.

Collaboration and Affiliations

The Ikageng CPF, while focused on the township, works in concert with broader organizations and neighboring CPFs:

• Ikageng-Potchefstroom Joint Efforts: Given Ikageng and Potchefstroom are adjacent, their CPFs sometimes coordinate on issues spilling across areas (e.g., highway robberies affecting both town and township). A joint Facebook group “Ikageng-Potchefstroom CPF” exists for cross-communication. During major events (like city-wide protests or regional crises), the two CPFs share resources and strategies. Ikageng CPF members also attend the quarterly meetings of the JB Marks Community Safety Forum alongside Potchefstroom CPF representatives.

• Community Safety Patrollers: Ikageng CPF runs a Community Safety Patrollers program, essentially volunteers in reflector vests who patrol alongside police in evenings. This was noted in provincial safety reports as a funded project with the CPF providing reports on its success​ dcstm.nwpg.gov.za. These patrollers serve a similar role to the “Community in Blue,” detaining suspects when citizens’ arrest is possible and alerting SAPS. The project has improved response in large areas where police patrols are stretched thin.

• Neighboring CPF Networks: Ikageng CPF liaises with CPFs in nearby townships (e.g., Jouberton CPF in Klerksdorp) to exchange best practices. They have jointly hosted workshops, for instance, an “Know Your Rights, Know Your Responsibilities” seminar was co-organized with a neighboring CPF to educate community policing volunteers.

• NGOs and Civic Organizations: The CPF partners with local civic groups such as street committees, ward committees, church forums, and NGOs like Banna ba Kae (a men’s community organization)​citizen.co.za. These groups often support CPF campaigns, e.g., church leaders might help the CPF disseminate anti-drug messages, and street committees often serve as CPF’s extended eyes on each block.

By 2025, the Ikageng Community Policing Forum stands as a critical mediator between the police and the community. It has navigated challenges such as limited resources and high crime rates with resilience and innovation, leveraging community solidarity. The CPF’s Facebook tagline “Crime free zone” ​facebook.com encapsulates its aspirational goal. While crime is still a serious concern, the CPF’s ongoing initiatives, from patrols to clean-ups and youth engagement, continue to make Ikageng a safer, more vigilant community.

The new CPF leadership (2024–2029) under Mr. Motshabi is expected to build on this foundation, with plans to introduce more technology (like community WhatsApp hotlines) and to strengthen the CPF’s presence in every corner of Ikageng.

Through consistent effort and community partnership, the Ikageng CPF exemplifies the spirit of “Batho Pele”, people first, ensuring that the safety and well-being of residents remain the top priority, in close cooperation with the South African Police Service.

Sources: Official news releases, local journalism (Potchefstroom Herald reports), SAPS North West annual reports, and public posts from the Potchefstroom and Ikageng CPF Facebook pages have been used to compile this comprehensive overview , reflecting the state of these CPFs up to April 2025.

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