Highway’s crime soars, Kloof CPF calls for urgent intervention

THE Kloof CPF has called on Provincial SAPS to host an immediate intervention and form a task team to deal with the rampant crime that has racked the Highway area in the last three months.

To highlight the urgent need for help, the Highway Mail spoke to the chairman for the Kloof CPF, Colin Fourie and Nikki Mohlmann, representing ward 10 for safety and security.

“The crime happening across the Highway area is serious. The petty crime may have dropped but the criminals are becoming more violent, more aggressive and more regular,” said a distressed Mohlmann.

“There have been 11 serious incidents in the Kloof area in the last three months, including a stabbing and one hijacking of a vehicle.”

In a recent incident in Kloof, a family was accosted by five men, each armed with a different weapon.

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During the house robbery (commonly referred to as a home invasion) a family member noticed a group of men gained access to the property and the domestic worker ushered the three residents into a room. A knife was shoved through the door to try gain access.

“The men were screaming at them to say they were going to kill them. To do that to children, aged six and 10, has done my head in,” said Mohlmann.

The parents were out and, as they returned, the father noticed a man standing in the garden with a rifle.

“The distraught father had no choice but to leave the scene to call for help,” said Fourie. The domestic worker did exceptionally well to lock them into the room. She is not in the best space after the incident. People say they are lucky they weren’t harmed, but they should never been exposed to that.”

 

 

CPF raises its concerns

Kloof SAPS, a cluster of Pinetown SAPS, covers the Kloof and Wyebank area. According to Fourie, there are only ever four policeman on duty at the station that caters to more than 35 000 residents.

“Two need to stay at the station at all times and two need to be in a vehicle when responding to a call out,” he noted.

There are 28 policemen hired to cover the three daily shifts, with four policemen on duty per rotation. There is only one vehicle.

“The policemen also have to respond to domestic violence disputes, that are usually ongoing, in Wyebank and are unable to respond to crimes in the Kloof area,” said Fourie.

“As Kloof residents, we work our full-time normal jobs and then volunteer our time both before and after normal working hours. If we get a message to say there is a crime, we will respond.

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“We have no arresting rights and can’t pull over cars. It’s the fact that we are now, on a daily basis, as security companies and patrollers, having to wait for SAPS to arrive. Short staffing is creating a huge problem,” said Fourie. “We want to root out petty crime as that leads to more dangerous crimes. The reaction times to get to crimes is just so far behind and this, I believe, is why the criminals keep coming back.”

During the interview at the Kloof SAPS station, there were only three officers on duty and Mohlmann said the short staffing meant there would be no call-outs done that day.

“Until they get the right numbers and the right people into Kloof, the residents and security companies can’t keep up like this,” said Mohlmann.

“We want to put pressure onto the provincial SAPS to get a tactical response team. We are not just fighting for Kloof as there are violent crimes happening on a daily basis across the Highway area and it needs to be sorted out!”

 

Volunteer:

The Kloof CPF is in need of a Zulu speaking volunteer counselor. To offer your help, contact Colin on 082 555 1998.

 

Assagay Neighbourhood Watch:

In April there are nine incidents that includes residential burglary, attempted burglary, house robbery and a car jacking.

In May there were 17 incidents including residential burglary, attempted burglary, house robbery and theft out of motor vehicles.

Contact Billy Farrell on 078 952 6067 or Sue Farrell on 081 584 3721 to join the NHW.

 

Waterfall 3 Neighbourhood Watch:

There have been five home invasions last two months. During four of them firearms and knives were produced and the criminals were in vehicles. One murder during a house robbery as well as another house robbery, two attempted housebreakings and a housebreaking.

Contact Karen Buxton on 084 318 3697.

 

Gillitts Park Community Association:

There have been 12 house burglaries, 13 trespassing cases, seven attempted burglaries, two house robberies and seven thefts.

Contact Tracey Lynch: on 082 464 1724. Response phone number: 072 624 2099.

 

Gillitts Two Community Network:

Contact Leonard Nicolson on 0723948296, email leonard@gillitts2.org or visit www.gillitts2.org.

 

Ashley Residents Neighbourhood Watch:

In May there was one attempted business robbery involving three suspects, two of whom were armed with semi-automatic rifles. There were three house robberies in June. In each of the incidents the robbers were armed with either firearms or knives.

Contact Nicky on 081 860 7264.

 

Highbury Neighbourhood Watch:

No violent crimes were reported in last three months.

Contact Barbara Mc Farland on 074 207 9354.

 

Kloof Community Police Forum:

There have been 11 incidents in the Kloof area including 10 house robberies and one hijacking.

Response phone: 076 082 9774.

 

Forest Hills Two Neighbourhood Watch:

In the last three months there have been two trespassing cases, six house-breakings, three house robberies and one robbery.

Contact Megan on 063 775 7846.

 

Manors Neighbourhood Watch:

Two house robberies, four trespassing cases, three theft out of premises (including one theft of motor vehicle) cases, one attempted break-in, one robbery at knife-point and 18 other thefts were reported.

Contact Gerry Wheeler on 083 600 1383.

 

Mariannhill Park Watch:

On 11 May, shots were fired at the intersection of Mariannridge Drive and Gardenia Road in Caversham Glen. The man’s injuries were fatal.

On 12 June three men beat up a man walking at the intersection of Mariannridge Drive and Keurboom Road. The lone man was put into the boot of a white Toyata Corolla. The circumstances regarding the incident are still unknown.

Contact Brian Mills on 061 356 6484 or visit www.mariannhillparkwatch.co.za.

 

 

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