Business owners in Commissioner Street in Fairview are living in fear of being robbed.
According to ward 66 councillor, Clr Carlos da Rocha, the business owners are angry because the law is not protecting them.
“They are robbed on a regular basis and they are now scared to open their businesses. They say now insurance does not even want to cover them because they are high-risk customers,” said Clr Da Rocha.
He said he is concerned about the safety of the business owners because they provide employment to a number of people and if they are scared of running their businesses in the area it means they will move and a number of people will be affected.
The EXPRESS visited one of the business owners, Mr Clint Franco, whose business was opened in 1988 by his father and he later took over.
“We have seen changes over the years and in the past three months the level of crime has been bad. We don’t see the police around and that leaves it to us to make sure our businesses are safe,” said Mr Franco.
He said his business has been broken into twice in a week and that has caused a concern for him for the safety of the customers and employees.
“When I installed the first gate it was just for safety to use one entrance but I have recently installed the second gate because it has become a necessity to ensure my family, employees and customers are safe.
“The criminals walk around freely and monitor what we are doing during the day,” said Mr Franco.
Mr Franco said his suppliers are also afraid to do deliveries.
“When our suppliers come to deliver, me and my employees have to all stand outside and guard the bakkie because if it’s left on its own, they will steal off the bakkie or possibly steal the bakkies,” said Mr Franco.
“I feel like a sitting duck because I am no longer comfortable opening the businesses. Every morning when I open the shop, I pray I have not been broken into. We have seen people being robbed on sidewalks and we cannot do anything because we fear for our businesses. My fear is that I will be robbed and killed. I’m considering moving to a safer area because I cannot run a business where customers are not comfortable to come into the shop because they fear something bad might happen,” said Mr Franco.
Business owners from Commissioner Street had a meeting earlier this month to address the issue with the Jeppe SAPS station commander to try and identify solutions to the problem.
According to Mr Franco they requested more police visibility in the area, to attend to crimes reported and monitoring of suspicious-looking people.
The EXPRESS spoke to the new Jeppe SAPS station commander Brigadier David Mbongeni Ngcobo who said, “I prefer not to comment on cases and challenges at this point because I have just been appointed and I am also learning of the challenges that face Jeppe SAPS precinct. In time I will comment on this issue,” said Brig Ngcobo.
