Street Monitor project kicks off in Morningside

A PILOT street monitor project has been initiated in a section of Lilian Ngoyi (Windermere) Road to address the influx of homeless people to the area, some of whom pose as car guards.

Councillor Ernest Smith said this had been an issue before he took up his position as ward councillor and had resulted in an increase in crime on Morningside streets.

“For a while I have been toying with the idea of gathering a group of the men to help maintain, clean and work on the streets. With service delivery not as effective as I would like it to be, I felt this group could help clean the roads and ensure safety in problem streets in ward 27. These men would be people residents could trust, rather than the ‘fly by night’ car guards who have popped up and who harass drivers,” he said.

For four months, Councillor Smith has observed street monitors working on Florida Road, as well as Helen Joseph Road in Glenwood, which has the Bulwer Ambassadors on the ground. He said he wanted to do something to benefit residents at an affordable rate. The men and woman, working in Lilian Ngoyi Road are volunteers who came forward and expressed a desire to give back to the community and make it a safe place.

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“These ‘Morningside Monitors’ will serve a purpose in the community. I know a few of them who have been working on municipal jobs in the area and have volunteered their time to help in clean-ups in the community. I have built a relationship with them and they have proven to be reliable, trustworthy and hardworking, and are keen to keep themselves busy rather than be perceived as ‘problems’ in the community. Being monitors will give them a purpose and enable them to get into mainstream work, and the money they make will make a difference to them,” he said.

Smith said the project was started two weeks ago when a ‘shifty’ car guard was caught by business owners trying to steal hubcaps off a vehicle parked in the road. Lucky Shandu stepped up and was the first to work on the project. Smith said he received positive feedback about Lucky, and from there, more people were added to join the team. The monitors will wear standard uniform with a yellow cap and bib and have been mandated, background checks have been done, and a contract regarding code of conduct has been signed.

“This is a pilot project from Goble Road to Livingstone Road, and we will see how it goes. The monitors work shifts during the day and night,” he said.

Smith has self-funded the programme so far, and if anyone in the community is willing to help with sponsorship of bibs, hats, lanyards and plastic pouches to attach to these, it would be greatly appreciated. Contact Councillor Smith on 079 214 0020 or email: ward27@ethekwini.org.

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