ERNEST Makwachure, know to Bulwer residents on WhatsApp as Quachu Maquachu, has thanked the Bulwer community as well as members of the Bulwer Safety and Urban Regeneration Forum (BSURF) and Umbilo Community Policing Forum (CPF) for rallying together after his bicycle was stolen from his property recently.
Ernest said he was extremely grateful to all involved for all the assistance while he was running around trying to locate the bicycle which was stolen on 21 January. His movements on the day were followed by members of the BSURF WhatsApp group, who offered advice and help.
“I had just returned from the Car Boot Market and had been putting things in the garage at the back of my block, when a resident from the flat upstairs saw a man throwing my bike over the fence. He ran out and chased the man on foot to Dalton Hostel, but was too scared to go in. He came to tell me what had happened and I went to Dalton and asked a few people if they had seen anyone with my bike, but it was fruitless,” said Ernest.
He went to Umbilo SAPS to open a case, and was informed his case number would be sent to him the following day.
“I went back to Dalton and asked around again, and some guys said they knew where the bike had been taken. We went to Diakonia Street in town and I was told to ask for a specific guy at one of the flats who had bought the bike. The security at the flat told me the guy had gone out and I promised to go back,” he said.
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Ernest said all the while he was communicating with the Bulwer community via WhatsApp and after going to Broad Street SAPS, who told him they could not assist as it was an Umbilo case, Enforce was informed of his plight through Heather Rorick from BSURF, and escorted him to the flat again.
“The guy still wasn’t there, although his son was, and after calling 10111, a van was sent out, however it was from the Broad Street SAPS, who once again said they could not help. I had to leave then, but I went to Umbilo SAPS with Helen Thompson from the Umbilo CPF the following day and got the attention I needed. I returned to the flat with the police who searched the flat, but the bike was not there as I think it had been moved because of the police presence the previous night. Police did find items that the man couldn’t account for,” he said.
During the week, Ernest went to Dalton Hostel every day searching with a crew from Umbilo SAPS and still came up with nothing. On Sunday, 28 January, he decided to go to the Car Boot Market as usual, arriving early to see if he could find anything.
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“I checked before anyone started selling and then I did a round again two hours later, but still didn’t find anything. Just before I left, I decided to go around one more time and at the stand which was held by the man from the Diakonia flat, I found my bike! The owner of the Car Boot Market helped me get my bike back without any hassle. The man said someone else had brought it to him to sell, however he had photos of the bike on his phone! He took me to a flat in St George’s Street to show me where he had got it. He tried phoning the guy who had passed the bike on to him, but they guy wouldn’t come out as he was aware of the police case. The bike had been stripped and extra components were removed. I’m still trying to get these things back,” he said.
Ernest said he hoped an arrest would be imminent as he had informed police of who was involved and where they could be found.
“The whole of Glenwood and Bulwer got involved and I want to thank the BSURF WhatsApp group members, Heather Rorick from BSURF, Helen Thompson for her support and Blue and Enforce for escorting me, I really appreciate it! I’m just glad to have my bike back!” he said.
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