Narcotics, driving under the influence, gender-based violence and homelessness were highlighted as issues of concern when Edenvale CPF held its most recent broader forum meeting.
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Although these are only some of the crimes affecting Edenvale, they were both highlighted by ECPF and Edenvale SAPS at the June 21 meeting.
ECPF chairperson Sheryl Damerel informed the community there had been great successes in terms of crime.
“Some of them we cannot share with the public but just know you are in very good hands with the team in Edenvale.”
She attributed the successes to the relationship between security companies, members on the ground, CPF members and SAPS.
“Crime is never going away. It is always going to remain with us in some form or other but it is how we tackle it and how we work together in fighting it that makes Edenvale the success it will be,” said Damerel.
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“We want it to be a town that we are all proud to live in.”
Damerel appealed to the public not to share unverified information and social media posts.
She said this creates unnecessary panic in the community and takes resources away from where they could be better utilised.
Damerel encouraged residents to be more specific when providing reports of suspicious individuals and vehicles.
She told the community to give precise locations with as much detail about the individual or person.
“We’ve conducted a lot of operations over the last three months and Edenvale has a problem with people drinking and driving.”
She said in some instances the driver who is suspected to be under the influence also has children in the vehicle with them.
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“There are so many ways to get home after a fun evening, so make use of such options so that nobody spoils your fun,” said Damerel.
Another crime highlighted by Damerel was gender-based violence.
“It is crime hidden behind our high walls. We are seeing women, children and men being beaten up.
“I think we are living in a society where people are still very tense because of Covid and the economic uncertain times.
“This causes people to be aggressive. It seems we are living on short fuses, which we can see with road rage. I know it’s hard but try and be courteous.”
Damerel said with the help of Gauteng’s MECs office, the police station can now be contacted 24/7 for matters related to GBV.
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Damerel said narcotic-related crimes continue to be a problem in Edenvale.
She congratulated Edenvale’s Visible Policing Unit commander Lieutenant Colonel Lionel Chetty for the station’s successes.
“The number of arrests is encouraging but worrying at the same time.”
Damerel encouraged community members who may have information about drug deals to collect information such as times, days, and frequency of purchases.
She said with more information SAPS will be able to develop a strategic plan to curb the drug trade.
Highlighting homelessness and the increasing number of vagrants, Damerel said there is no immediate solution.
She said each time an individual is relocated or moved they return to Edenvale a short time later.
“There are some facilities where these people are offered a place to stay, but many of them come to Edenvale’s streets where it is easier to get everything they need.”
She pointed to an operation in June during which vagrants were removed from a piece of municipal land between Edenvale sports ground and Consalves Avenue.
“Despite the vagrants being removed, with EMPD’s assistance, they returned a short while later and erected shelters.”
Lisa Atkins of Essentially Edenvale said fellow director Michelle dos Santos has joined the Ekurhuleni Homelessness Forum, which works with the Department of Social Development.
“Plans for Ekurhuleni are being worked on to assist the homeless,” said Atkins.
“Some ideas include drop-in centres where homeless persons will have access to social workers, showers and a laundry.”
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Atkins said something which needs to be done in Edenvale is the profiling of homeless persons, taking their photos, documenting their ID numbers, and their fingerprints and determining what assistance they need.
Damerel said if a homeless person commits any act of violence a case must be opened with the SAPS.
Damerel, who was recently invited to a meeting with aldermen Heather Hart and Bill Rundle with EMPD’s Internal Affairs, said if community members find themselves either intimidated or in a position where an officer wants a bribe, she said a case must be opened.
If a case is not opened, a sworn statement must be provided to internal affairs so that the information can be kept on record.
Edenvale EMPD precinct commander Chief Superintendent Leon Saaiman advised motorists to never pay any form of bribe.
“Rather use pen and paper and open a case against the officer,” he said.
He also reminded community members that they are permitted to ask EMPD officers for their appointment cards.
Giving his report, Vispol commander Lieutenant Colonel Lionel Chetty, who has been at the station for close to three months, said in April there were 124 arrests, in May 126 and as of June 21, 74.
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He said these ranged from possession of illegal firearms, narcotics, driving under the influence, assault, residential robberies and burglaries, GBV and a wanted suspect.
He said in terms of driving under the influence 17 motorists were arrested in April, 10 in May, and 12 by June 21.
During April, SAPS arrested 31 suspects for narcotics, 23 in May and as of June 21 Vispol arrested 10.
“There are far more people taking or selling drugs in Edenvale than the statistics show.”
A notable point that Chetty highlighted was the progress on the establishment of the Edenvale Task Team.
The project, which will see security companies work in partnership with the SAPS and respond to calls, should be up and running by next month.
Chetty said he has engaged with numerous sectors of the community in the fight against crime.
One sector he still plans to meet with is the taxi associations.
Challenges he highlighted included narcotics in the community, driving under the influence and the sharing of unverified information.
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Chetty said several complaints of corruption within law enforcement were received.
“We are busy working on it,” he said.
Chetty appealed to community members to report any vacant properties as these are often used as shelters by homeless persons.
Emphasising what Damerel said, Chetty noted that the station deals with a high number of GBV and domestic violence-related cases.
He said the station has partnered up with an NGO and now has two volunteers at the station who can assist victims alongside CPF volunteers and the floor manager.
Some crimes of concern highlighted by SAPS included smash and grabs, trio crimes, hijackings and robberies.
According to the SAPS Sector One, specifically, Illiondale has become a hotspot with most crimes occurring between 15:00 and 20:00 on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Chetty said property-related crime is high in Edenvale specifically hijackings, the theft of and out of motor vehicles.
He said previously theft of and out of motor vehicles would occur mostly in Sector Four, however, it now occurs across Edenvale in residential areas and shopping centres.
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Vehicles targeted include Ford and Toyota SUVs.
Providing her report, Edenvale’s station commander Colonel Ntombomzi Basholo encouraged community members to make use of the suggestion box located in the charge office.
“As the station commander, I receive many complaints about our CSC staff. When I look inside our suggestion box, I find that it’s empty.”
Basholo also warned community members about purchasing items online.
She said a large number of fraud cases related to online shopping or purchases were opened at the station.
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Basholo urged shoppers to verify all details before making payment or to even meet the seller at the police station.
Appealing to the community to assist in the fight against crime, Basholo said the station requires informants.
“As residents of Edenvale you often overhear people talking and although it might not affect you directly it could be relevant to crime in Edenvale.”
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