Robbers still prey on Pinetown Home Affairs queue
The high crime rate at the Pinetown Home Affairs department has come under the spotlight once again after a post, warning people about the area, went viral on Facebook.
THE recent spike in muggings at knife-point around the Pinetown Home Affairs Department angers residents who feel like sitting ducks in the lengthy, uncontrolled queues.
And although incidents are reported to home affairs staff and police, the apathetic, disinterested response is anything but reassuring, said people in the queue.
The Highway Mail visited the Pinetown Home Affairs on Monday, 4 February to speak to people about the issue of safety after a Facebook post went viral warning about the dangers people face at the Pinetown home affairs. At about 9am, people were standing in long queues in the blazing heat waiting for their turn.
One woman said getting there at 4am did not seem to help as after five gruelling hours waiting to collect her passport, no one seemed to be able to point her in the right direction.
“There are lots of issues in this place besides crime. What is happening here is not normal. The management should come up with a system that will work for everyone, people cannot wait here for hours just for collections, it is unacceptable,” said a resident who asked to remain anonymous.
She added that the stories they have heard about people being mugged are terrifying, “but what can we do, this is the home affairs we have close by and you have to return here as once you have applied for a passport, and collect it – and then it is not found.”
ALSO READ: Pinetown Home Affairs is disorganised
Col Reed, who put up a post on her Facebook page, said she went there on Wednesday, 30 January to collect her passport and, while standing in the queue outside with her friend, witnessed mugging incidents. In one, it was an elderly couple who was robbed of cellphones and a wallet.
“Closely after that, a gentleman that had just got out of a taxi had his cellphone snatched, he gave chase, but the thief was too fast for him. Another lady and her husband, (had a small child with them), were attacked at knife-point while getting out of their car, took his wallet and both cellphones. The husband was holding the little girl, they threw her into the car and then held a knife to the wife. The lady began screaming and the husband gave chase, but was threatened with the knife again. Another lady had her cellphone snatched. Another elderly couple had been attacked and their belongings taken earlier. While we were inside the office, news came that another person standing on the roof section had his cellphone snatched,” explained Reed in the post.
Reed said because the staff was having a meeting, they did not open at the usual time.
“I approached the security officer inside home affairs and told him that people were being robbed outside, his answer was that ‘it is not my responsibility’. Asked him why they were late in opening as there were pensioners standing in the queue in the hot sun. His reply was ‘we are in a meeting, go back and stand in the queue’.”
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The disgusted Reed said she called 10111 twice and asked them to send someone to patrol the area. “Well, they pitched up 20 minutes later in a police van, they did not even get out, then casually drove off.
“Eventually two young police officers arrived and I informed them of the incidents, apparently it is a daily occurrence. At least they drove around to have a look,” she said.
Pinetown Cluster communications officer, Capt Bongumusa Manqele, once again warned people to be careful when they are talking on their cellphones and to ensure their jewellery, cash and other valuables are not exposed.
He said police do patrol the area regularly and there are no recent cases which have been reported to the station.
Department of Home Affairs media liaison officer, Thabo Mokgola, was asked for comment regarding safety around home affairs and any update of moving the Pinetown Home Affairs to a safer area and his response was, “I am not sure if this would relate to our area of responsibility. I would propose that you refer your query to the police,” he said.
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