Approximately 5 000 signatures have already been gathered on petitions to prevent the transfer of Edenvale SAPS head of crime prevention, Lieutenant Colonel Robbie Roberts.
Petitions handed to the NEWS last night were from the Karaglen Shopping Centre and Karaglen Spar, Terrace Road Pick n Pay, Pick n Pay Eden Meadows, Eastleigh Primary School and Stoneridge Shopping Centre.
The Edenvale community is rallying against the transfer of Lt Col Roberts to Kempton Park.
“The community cannot afford to loose yet another Edenvale crime fighter – this time Lt Col Roberts. He is a pocket of excellence and as a community, we owe it to ourselves to unite in efforts to keep him and not lose an Edenvale top cop again ,” said the NEWS’ Editor, Marietta Lombard.
She added that at the time of Superintendent Blackie Swart’s leadership as station commander, he too managed to uplift Edenvale and help it establish an identity as a crime fighting and crime prevention community. This was achieved with the support of Edenvale stakeholders and leaders such Mr Colin McDonald, the former Edenvale CPF, Mr Adrian Griffith, former vice-chairman of the ECPF and members of the Business Forum and business leaders such as Mr Harry Karamichael.
“Edenvale was forced to just accept it when Supt Swart was transferred, also to Kempton Park. There are more examples from years gone by. There is a simple rule in life, don’t fix something that is not broken,” said the Editor.
Edenvale business owners, Mr Semos Georgiades and Mr Karamichael, believe that a number of community projects would cease to exist if Lt Col Roberts was to be transferred.
“Lt Col Roberts has been instrumental in implementing several community crime prevention projects. Without him, we fear these will no longer have the impact they currently do,” said Mr Karamichael.
“The crime stats speak for itself. Since Lt Col Roberts took up his position in Edenvale, there has been a drastic reduction in crime as well as an increase in the number of arrests made,” said the chairperson of the ECPF, Mrs Linda McKenzie.
“He has also brought the community together, which has resulted in an increase in community involvement in fighting crime,” said Mrs McKenzie.
The deadline for all petitions will be August 26 at 12-noon.
