AN end to the nightmare trip to Pinetown Home Affairs where people are attacked and robbed, is in sight.
Accessing services at Pinetown Home Affairs is dangerous and after years of complaints and outcries from the community for its offices to be relocated, it seems like the residents’ plea has finally been heard.
ALSO READ: It’s a sad state of affairs at Pinetown Home Affairs
Computers that are regularly offline at the Pinetown Home Affairs are the least of the problems for residents who face the escalating crime in queues and outside.
Ward 18 councillor, Melanie Brauteseth, said she was happy to report that Pinetown Home Affairs is definitely in the process of being relocated.
“A new location has been identified, unfortunately I have not been given a timeline as to when this will be completed but I will follow the progress of the development and reveal the location,” she said.
Brauteseth received feedback from Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) that procurement has been finalised by the region.
“I have been told the lease agreement has been prepared and signed by DPWI and is currently awaiting signature from the landlord. Once the landlord has signed the lease agreement, engagements will begin for tenant installation and expected time frames of that process will be reported,” reported Brauteseth.
A recent incident involved a Hillary grandfather, Krisen Chanderdeoa, who was a victim of an armed robbery outside the Home Affairs’ building. Chanderdeo was with his wife, daughter and grandson when they were followed by four men, one armed with a screwdriver.
ALSO READ: Pinetown Home Affairs continues to be a crime hot spot
Chanderdeo and his wife were assaulted and robbed of a cellphone. They were followed and surrounded as they crossed the road.
He said he stepped back when he saw the screwdriver. Three men were in the front of him and the one at the back grabbed his cellphone and all ran into the crowd.
Chanderdeo, one of the many victims of robbery in that area, said he wanted to warn residents to be more vigilant when going to Home Affairs.
Pinetown Cluster communications officer, Capt Bongumusa Manqele, said even though Pinetown police conduct regular patrols around Home Affairs along Josiah Gumede Road and Crompton Street, they would also like to appeal to the community to be more vigilant when walking around the area.
“Incidents of robbery are on the rise. People are also urged not to expose any valuables like cellphones and jewellery,” he said.
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