Understanding why CPFs exist, how they are structured, and how the District Board fits between your local station forum and the province.
Community Policing Forums (CPFs) are structures established under the South African Police Service Act, 1995, to promote cooperation between the police and the communities they serve. Every police station in South Africa is required to have an associated CPF made up of elected community representatives.
CPFs are not a substitute for SAPS and have no operational policing powers. Instead, they exist to build trust, improve communication, and ensure that local policing priorities reflect what residents actually experience on the ground.
With 18 police stations across Nelson Mandela Bay, each with its own station-level CPF, a coordinating structure is essential. The Nelson Mandela Bay District CPF Board brings the 18 station forums together under one umbrella, so that priorities can be aligned, resources shared, and a single, unified community voice can engage with SAPS district management, the Metro and the Provincial CPF Board.
Creating regular, structured opportunities for residents and SAPS management to engage, build trust and resolve concerns.
Providing community input into local crime-prevention priorities and monitoring service delivery at station level.
Mobilising residents, ratepayers' associations, neighbourhood watches and civil society to take part in safety initiatives.
Bringing SAPS, local government, business and communities together to address the root causes of crime, not just its symptoms.
Ensuring all 18 station CPFs in Nelson Mandela Bay work from shared standards, share best practice, and speak with one voice.
Elected community members at each of the 18 police stations in Nelson Mandela Bay, working daily alongside station commanders.
The coordinating body for the whole Nelson Mandela Bay policing district, elected by delegates from all station CPFs — the current Board took office in July 2026.
Represents all district boards across the Eastern Cape, engaging with provincial policing leadership and policy.
None of these three role players can achieve safety alone. This is what each brings to the partnership.
Visible, professional policing; sharing station-level crime information with the CPF where appropriate; and attending CPF meetings and community engagements.
Representing the whole community fairly, remaining non-political and non-operational, and channelling verified concerns to SAPS constructively.
Reporting crime through proper channels, participating in safety programmes, and supporting neighbourhood-level structures such as watches and patrols.
Find your nearest police station and its CPF, or reach the District Board directly with questions about how to join.
