THERE is nothing more tragic and heartbreaking than a parent burying a child. In the natural order of things, it shouldn’t happen, our children are supposed to outlive us.
Sadly, this week we mourn with two families in our community who each lost a son as a result of violent crimes. To the family and loved ones of Shrivaar Panday and Kurtlee Pillay, we extend our sincere and heartfelt condolences. No words can comfort at a time like this and we hold these families in our prayers.
The high level of violent crime that is sweeping through our city has to be stopped. It doesn’t help to point fingers or lay blame, no Should’ve, Could’ve, Would’ve, is going to change the tragic events that took place this week. What we need to be doing is looking forward, coming together and combining our efforts as real communities, to work with the authorities on combating the insidious scourge that seems to have a stranglehold on our community.
It is time for local authorities to heed the cries of concern residents have raised over and over again on the danger and harassment they are subjected to at intersections throughout the city which have become convenient hotspots for crime. It is time for each and every one of us to become active citizens and watch out for each other. If we see something happening, it is our responsibility to take note and report what we have seen. It does not help that we turn a blind eye and drive past, hoping someone else will stop, help or report an incident to the police. It is no use saying we don’t want to get involved, because we are already all involved. Each and every one of us has the potential to be a victim of crime, each of us could lose a loved one at any time, that is the reality of crime in our city.
We cannot continue to live in fear, we cannot afford not to care. The time has come for ordinary citizens to stand together, to take back our streets , our intersections, our parks and our suburbs. We need to make it clear that we will not stand for criminal behaviour and we expect those in authority of our city and those who are there to protect and serve to stand with us.
