THERE was much tension between Berea police and Sector One community members at the SCF's first meeting for the year recently.
Chairman of Sector 1, Dr Des Moodley went through the various crime initiatives that were paying off big dividends with the community banding together on Whatsapp groups and even volunteer patrols to curb crime and bring break-ins down in the area. He also spoke about crime hot-spot areas around the area including Berea Park, the St Thomas and Musgrave corner and general problem of vagrancy and drugs.
Moodley called for accountability, citing many occasions where community volunteer patrols were not given the police support they needed. A general vote of no-confidence in the Sector One Commander, Warrant Officer Deena Naidoo was also noted at the meeting.
Wayne Grundy of civic action group Save Our Berea, was disappointed with the turnout at the meeting, “It is amazing that with more than 500 members on the crime Facebook pages, blogs, even more on Whatsapp groups, yet only about 37 people turn up at a crime meeting. We have seen people in uniform giving us excuses but not enough arrests,” he added.
Col WR Xulu, acting station commander at Berea SAPS, assured all residents that he was available if ever they experienced any issues and gave his cellphone number out at the meeting. “These community forum meetings are here for us to work together to come up with solutions to fight crime together,” Xulu added.
Lieutenant PN Naidoo, communications officer at Berea SAPS, said the acting station commander, Col WR Xulu had noted Sector One chairman's concern that he was unable to work with Warrant Officer Deena Naidoo as Sector Commander of Sector One. “Colonel Xulu has made several attempts to set up a meeting with Des Moodley to sort out his issues with W/O Naidoo but was unable to secure a meeting to come up with a solution due to the chairman failing to meet with Col Xulu.”
