Residents angered by mob violence
Forty-six people attended this week's Bulwer Community Safety Forum, concerned after Monday night's mob attack.
THE attack on whoonga addicts allegedly by residents of Dalton Hostel on Monday night was the hot topic of concern at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Bulwer Community Safety Forum.
Councillor Nicole Graham gave a brief talk on what she as the ward councillor has undertaken to do in the aftermath of Monday night’s attacks.
“People are understandably frightened that something like this will happen again, and also completely fed up of the harassment, crime and chaos that the whoonga users have inflicted on the community, including students from DUT who must pass the new ‘whoonga park’ on a daily basis,” she said.
Graham said she believed the plan the city embarked on to attempt to deal with the problem a number of months ago was been more of a publicity exercise than an actual intervention.
She said she had contacted a deputy city manager, Dr Musa Gumede and asked him to address a meeting of Glenwood residents this week.
Capt Motsamai Dingaan spoke on community commitment and how SAPS, Metro, Umbilo CPF, safety groups such as BCSF and the community can, and must work together to fight crime and grime in the area.
Ward 27 Councillor Martin Meyer was also at the meeting and gave some informative report backs, including on the noise from Curries Fountain a few weekends ago, a problem which also affected the Bulwer area.
Mzansi Security spoke on on security and its working with the community on a pilot project in Helen Joseph (Davenport) Road.
A number of individuals voiced their fears and anger over Monday night’s attack on the innocent and homeless and laid the blame at the feet of the city manager and mayor for not stepping in years ago to stop what has now sprialled out of control.
I have been residing for over 15yrs in Davenport Rd & the state it is now in is depressing. The value of the. area has depreciated drastically over the years, with the prostitutes and whoonga community that has polluted the area. Our children are mugged daily it has become more like point rd/ Albert park. Davenport Rd stincks a lot now the pea & do whatever on the side of the road. Jogging has become a nightmare because its not safe anymore. These people are dangerous.