Speaking about the past year, Mrs Lornette Joseph, the chairperson of the I Love Kensington Association (Ilka), said a murder at the Rusty Lady Deli Bistro, the human skull and other remains discovered and the shooting of a man close to the Jeppe High School for Girls were incidents that almost seemed like something out of Hollywood.
Ms Natalie Dube was found dead at the Rusty Lady Deli Bistro in Queen Street, in Kensington, on July 9.
Her throat was slit and her feet and hands were tied with electrical cables.
Ms Dube (25), a Malvern resident, went to work the day before and one of the managers allegedly asked her to remain behind after work to do stock taking because she was late. She did so. Ms Dube’s body was found at the premises the next day.
On October 20 a security guard, Mr Alfeus Gumbi, discovered a human skull in a drain at the corner of Kitchener Avenue and Lancaster Street. Authorities were notified about the gruesome find. The skull was removed from the drain and authorities found more remains, from the hips down, close by.
On November 27 a man was gunned down in Roberts Avenue in broad daylight. According to Constable Mpho Mashakane, the Cleveland SAPS communications officer, the suspects stopped next to the man’s vehicle and shot him. The man drove further while the suspects continued shooting at him. He lost control of the vehicle and drove into a tree. He died at the scene.
Kensington residents took to Facebook on all these occasions to express their concerns about crime in the suburb.
“I think I am the only chairperson of Ilka, previously the Kensington Residents Association, who had to deal with three big story deaths and the deaths of two of Kensington’s respected members, Mr Harry Crichton and Mr Gerald Heine,” said Mrs Joseph.
Speaking in her personal capacity, Mrs Joseph said she is saddened by the loss of life, that these incidents took place in Kensington and that her children are aware of it.
“However, the motives of these few do not outweigh all that is good about Kensington. I am still fully committed to serving this community. From what I gathered and from some of the feedback that I have had personally or on our Ilka Facebook page, I think the public was more outraged that the police was ‘keeping us in the dark’ rather than telling us everything. I, however, understand that the police cannot give feedback every five minutes and especially not about an on-going investigation,” she said.
Mrs Joseph added that she does not think the murders affected people from a safety point of view. “People were saddened and shocked but I think people are more concerned about the safety in the parks, leaving their cars outside, or the theft of belongings out of their properties. These incidents in fact showed everyone that the Kensington community comes together. People supported the Rusty Lady, the guard who found the skull and everyone was concerned about the safety of the children with the latest shooting. I always have to smile because Kensington is like a really big family. In any large family, the only people that can call you names and fight with you are your siblings, but when outsiders try, the family comes together. This is Kensington,” said Mrs Joseph.
She said that crime happens everywhere as the public has witnessed in neighbouring suburbs such as Bedfordview in the past few weeks. “However, I hate that this has happened, not only on our doorsteps, but also to my residents. These things affect everything and everybody. I do not want the community to feel that they cannot walk the streets, go to the park or support our local businesses. We must not allow the few to affect the many. I know that that is easier said than done but I do believe that if we all pull together instead of in different directions, a lot more would be done and accomplished,” she said.
Mrs Joseph urged residents to be more vigilant. “Do not let your guard down because it is the festive season. The criminals certainly will not. Become a part of the sector meeting, talk to your neighbours and Ilka. Report crime even if you feel it is silly and the police will not do anything about it. This is how we get a true reflection on crime. Do not let the criminals force you to lock yourself in your own home and become a prisoner. Rather walk your dogs and go for a picnic with your families in Rhodes Park. Take back the streets and the suburb and communicate,” said Mrs Joseph.
Ilka plans on implementing more initiatives to inform and educate residents about crime next year.
Earlier this year, Ilka approached the Cleveland and Jeppe SAPS to host a joint sector crime forum meeting and to treat Kensington as one suburb to ensure effective and productive policing.
This suburb is policed by both police stations due to the precinct boundary line.
Mrs Joseph said the boundary line is a worry because police officers mentioned overlapping areas of concern at public meetings.
People also do not know who to contact in an emergency because they are not sure which station they are served by. She requested that a joint public meeting instead of two be held to discuss crime concerns.
“I managed to get the two police stations to allow Kensington to have its own sector meetings. These meetings are for the public to attend, to find out what is happening crime-wise, to get the crime statistics and give some feedback to the police. It will not be the place to discuss municipal issues. Ilka is there to handle those queries. We have also spoken to the police about starting a forum for gardeners, domestic workers and the elderly so they can learn about what to do and what not to do. This is something we would like to start from February,” said Mrs Joseph.
