MPUMALANGA community safety, security and liaison MEC Sibongile Manana says communication between the police and public is vital in sustaining partnerships against crime.

MPUMALANGA community safety, security and liaison MEC Sibongile Manana says communication between the police and public is vital in sustaining partnerships against crime.

Manana was speaking yesterday in Ermelo police station where she addressed police bosses and the Msukaligwa business community.

The meeting was a result of complaints raised by the community and business people who claimed that the police were not doing enough to fight gangsterism, drug peddling and business robberies. They also said that the police were not visible in the area.

Earlier, the business community had called for the entire station management to be restructured and steps be taken against police officers who are not doing their jobs properly.

They have also called for the allocation of adequate resources to the police station.

The business community also alleged that the station did not respond to calls to the 10111 crime hotline.

Allegations were also levelled against the station commissioner, Senior Superintendent Zachariah Nyathi, that he was always not available to address their problems and that he does not have the support of his subordinates.

Manana said: "Police management must clearly communicate its decisions and programmes to members and the public so that there is no confusion."

She urged the station management to strengthen links with the communities and other stakeholders such as the private security industry.

She said the security industry should not be seen as competing with the police but as a partner in assisting the government to achieve its target of reducing crime.

Manana said programmes such as sector policing must be well communicated to members of the community in order to be effective.