Abstract
CPFs have arguably played a significant role in combating crimes in South Africa. This
study considers how Moreletapark’s Sector 4 CPF, in its commitment to community
policing, deals with issues that have hereto challenged its operational effectiveness
and sustainability, namely recruitment, membership and participation. Despite the
ideals of community policing, significant limitations that challenge CPF members to
combat crime effectively in Moreletapark persist. These limitations include the limited
ability to attract, retain, and motivate CPF volunteers, which has resulted in the
withdrawal of CPF members from operational activities, which are necessary to
maintain organisational effectiveness.
The key focus of the study was, therefore, to assess the participation of community
members in the Community Policing Forum’s crime combating role. In order to
effectively execute the study, the research objectives were: to establish how CPFs
attract participants to join them to combat crime; to explore what motivates volunteers
to participate in the CPF’s activities; to explore possible reasons for the decreasing
membership in the CPFs; to establish the effectiveness of CPFs in their crime
combating role; and to proffer recommendations, if needs be, which will stimulate
participation in the CPFs in their crime combating role.
In order to achieve the set objectives, a qualitative research design was adopted, while
purposive sampling was utilised to select respondents. Semi-structured interview
questions were utilised to obtain reliable responses from the interviewees. The
researcher also utilised observation as a research instrument. A case study approach
within the qualitative paradigm was considered as the most appropriate for the study.
The census approach was adopted, since the population of active members in the
CPF had decreased. Proper ethical considerations were observed throughout the
study.
It was apparent from the research findings that the CPF is besieged with enormous
challenges, which could affect its effectiveness and sustainability as a crime
combating concern, which has a tendency to ultimately erode its crime combating...
M.Phil. (Employment Relation)