Neighbourhood watch concerned over Red Hill Cemetery security, upkeep
Gaps in the cemetery fence as well as the lack of CCTV cameras concerns Mvoti Neighbourhood Watch.
THE Mvoti Neighbourhood Watch say they are awaiting feedback on when the CCTV cameras installed in the Red Hill Cemetery will be repaired and monitored.
This comes after local resident David Williams noticed some of the cameras had wiring ripped out of them and that several poles had been cut down by criminals looking for scrap to sell.
Williams has raised concerns over damaged sections of the cemetery’s fence line, which posed a security concern as criminals were using them as a possible escape route.
Several gaps and openings are still visible around the cemetery and on Ryde Place.
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Recent CPF operations have also revealed that suspected criminals are hiding in the green belt surrounding the cemetery.
“There have been a lot of theft incidents in the area, and we’ve found places where the gaps are porous, allowing the criminals to get into the area. As the neighbourhood watch, we’ve blocked gaps with razor wire, with our own money. We have spent close to R12 000 on razor wire to block access and maintain sections where the razor wire had been damaged.
“Sections of fence on Malacca Road and Ryde Place are particularly bad. Aside from illegal dumping in those areas, there are definitely people living in the green belt bordering the cemetery. The cemetery concrete fence on Girvan Avenue and Station Ridge Road also poses a security risk as we’ve found suspected stolen items discarded there, like cameras and other household goods,” Williams explained.
He added, the CCTV camera system was also a massive concern.
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“The installation of the high-tech cameras was meant to combat gun-fire salutes and other illegal activities within the cemetery. The project cost more than R700 000, but now, there are cameras that have been stolen, not working, and in some cases, metal poles have been cut down to steal the camera and wiring. When I’ve queried this with cemetery management, I’ve been stonewalled and gotten no answers,” he said.
Despite repeated attempts, the eThekwini Municipality failed to comment by the time of going to print.
