#YourStory – MAD Penny back in Bedfordview

The day's lesson was themed 'Know your neighbours'.

March 2, 2016

Duenna Mambana 2 minutes read

Ms Penny Steyn at the relaunch of her MAD Domestic Watch at the Bedforview Methodist Church.

MAD Penny is back and she is more feisty than ever.

Ms Penny Steyn relaunched her (Making A Difference) MAD Domestic Watch last Wednesday at the Befordview Methodist Church.

Over 50 domestic workers and gardeners came together for the relaunch.

The day’s lesson was themed, ‘Know your neighbours’.

Ms Steyn said it is important to know the people who live around you and for you to have their contact details.

“In an emergency it will be your neighbours who will call for help. Your neighbours are the ones who will save your life and you will be the one to save theirs. This is why it is important to know each other,” said Ms Steyn.

Asked why she decided to get involved in the fight against crime, Ms Steyn said she was affected by crime in many instances.

“It was on Heritage Day 2001 when my life changed,” said Ms Steyn.

She said she woke up at night with two men in her bedroom, with one of them strangling her.

“The only thing that saved me that night was my decision to fight back. I bit the man’s finger so hard and refused to let go. He tried to continue strangling me but I just would not let go until he screamed to his friend that they leave my house. I had to take a round of anti-retrovirals because I had bitten into his finger so much that he bled,” said Ms Steyn.

She said both her husband and best friend were murdered prior to her ordeal.

“It was like crime was following me around, but looking back now I believe it was for a purpose. My experience paved the way for the birth of MAD Penny,” said Ms Steyn.

She said when she did not get the help she expected from the police, regarding her case, she decided to take matters into her own hands and make a difference.

Ms Steyn said she left her job and started speaking to domestic workers. She has also provided customer service training to over 3 000 police officers.

During her session, she told domestic workers and gardeners to make police officers their friends.

“The police need you to like them in order for them to do their job. You and I should form part of the Crime Prevention Unit. We should work with the police to help bring criminals to book,” said Ms Steyn.

She said after attending her sessions, which are free of charge, domestic workers would not fall victim to crime because they will know what to do.

“Domestic workers and gardeners are the first in line when robbers strike. They are the first to be tied up because often they know where the guns, jewellery and valuables are. This is why I want to empower them to behave correctly during an emergency,” said Ms Steyn.

Although details of the next session are yet to be announced, Ms Steyn encouraged residents to release their staff to attend the sessions.

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