Ratanda Local Safety Forum officially launched to curb crime in Lesedi

On Saturday morning, September 27, Anti-Crime Units from across Gauteng braved the cold, rainy weather and descended on Sol’s Cafe in Ratanda to attend the official launch of the Ratanda Local Safety Forum.

Known to most as the Ratanda Anti-Crime Unit or ‘The Forum’, what simply began in 2022 as community members joining hands to reduce crime and drug abuse, has steadily grown into a powerful crime-busting force.

According to The Forum, after about two years of local crime prevention, a serious drop in Ratanda’s crime statistics was noticed.

It was from that point that the team decided to move forward with more vigor and strengthen their operations.

The official launch was also attended by concerned Ratanda residents, various stakeholders (including the Ratanda Community Policing Forum) and members of the Gauteng Anti-Crime Unit standing in solidarity with the Ratanda Safety Forum.

Commander Duma Radebe (Chairman of Gauteng Anti Crime Unit) led the program with passion, while some of the keynote speakers included Ratanda Ward councillor, Cllr Bheki Mkhize and Sizokuthola TV show presenter and famed crime-fighter Xolani Khumalo who encouraged the Ratanda Safety Forum to continue fighting crime with no apologies.

Xolani who is affectionately known as Supreme Commander X, explained that the new strategy going forward is for all Anti Crime Units around Gauteng to move from being reactive to being offensive by finding and apprehending criminals before they commit crimes.

Skeem GP, the well-known podcast host and former inmate turned motivational speaker, was also one of the esteemed guests at the launch.

In his address, he commended the crime-fighting efforts by local crime prevention groups like the Ratanda Local Safety Forum, which have played a significant role in assisting law enforcement in townships across the province.

Upon the completion of the first part of the program, a convoy of vehicles from all of the visiting Gauteng Anti-Crime Units drove around Ratanda to officially make it clear to criminals that the Ratanda Safety Forum means business.

Soon after the convoy headed back to complete the last leg of the program at Sol’s Cafe.

Executive Mayor of Lesedi Local Municipality, Cllr Mluleki Nkosi joined proceedings and congratulated members of the Ratanda Safety Forum on pushing this much needed initiative that has shown visible results in improving the safety in not only Ratanda, but the Lesedi Municipality as a whole.