RESIDENTS attending the Bulwer Safety and Urban Regeneration Forum (BSURF) monthly meeting on Tuesday night were reassured that the forum, along with the CPF, SAPS and Metro Police, were working hard to fight crime in the community.
Speaking to residents, chairperson, Heather Rorick, said she felt it was not a lot to ask for residents to take the time once a month to attend the meeting, where they would be able to hear ‘straight from the horse’s mouth’ – from the councillor, CPF, SAPS and Metro Police who were active in the community.
“With the establishment of the Glenwood UIP in July this year, we will have added support to help make this area just as good as other areas with UIPs in place, such as Umhlanga. What we are fighting for in Glenwood is for the community to unite with Metro, SAPS, forums and the ward councillor to take responsibility for the area. These meetings are not for residents just to attend and listen to someone talking, the intention is to get the community together to stand up to fight for the right to get up there with Umhlanga and have the best services,” she said.
Rorick said the UIP would be a top up to existing services provided by the municipality, and will run from Umbilo Road (excluding Umbilo Road) up to Esther Roberts Road, and from King Dinuzulu Road to Alan Paton Road.
ALSO READ: Mobile trailer to benefit Durban communities
She urged residents not to get despondent regarding crime and issues such as prostitution, and reassured residents that the BSURF, CPF and police were working hard and chipping away at the problems in the community.
Supt Deon Perumal from Metro Police confirmed this and mentioned projects on the go in the area. He said Glenwood was the only precinct which had been assigned 14 training police constables, who patrolled the area on foot from 6am to 6pm. He said a team would be working at the weekend seeing to compliance issues such as noise complaints, prostitution and checking liquor licenses. He said vagrancy and attacks in Bulwer Park were being dealt with drastically and encouraged residents not to support the vagrants with food or money.
Councillor Mmabatho Tembe encouraged residents to sign a petition to say ‘no’ to tariff increases until services in the city were improved, as well as a petition for action to improve electricity and water infrastructure in ward 33.
The next BSURF meeting is on Tuesday, 14 May at Glenwood Community Church, intersection of Clark and Bulwer Roads at 6.30pm.
Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail WhatsApp number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts
