GALLERY and VIDEO: MEC of Community Safety visits

The Gauteng MEC of Community Safety Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane visited the Sophiatown Police Station and crime hotspot areas on 8 October, to promote crime prevention and awareness.

Sophiatown Police Station Commander Brigadier Susan Crawford briefed the MEC on the crime statistics for the station. It was clear from the statistics that drug-related crimes are high in the precinct. This was reiterated by NGO Care & Share member Alyshia Huntley, who said, “There is no social development for the youth and no activity from relevant stakeholders in our community.”

Nkosi-Malobane said, ”Crime affects all of us so we can’t use crime as a political tool.” The areas that are most affected are Westbury, Kathrada Park Informal Settlement, Montgomery Park, Newclare, Melville Koppies Nature Reserve, Waterval Estate, Sophiatown and Newlands.

She added, “We are here for the community to address how we can attend to their problems.” Nkosi-Malobane stressed that drug-related problems start at home. “Parents need to address the issues at home, children are surrounded by family members that smoke and drink heavily around them.”

The MEC, her staff, Sophiatown SAPS, Community Policing Forum members and concerned residents took to the streets and stopped at Westbury Train Station. “We need to ensure that the people that use this mode of transport are kept safe,” added Nkosi-Malobane.

The state of the nearby flats appeared unkempt, with small children loitering the streets unattended. “Student safety needs to be addressed,” said Nkosi-Malobane. The MEC also visited the Kathrada Park Informal Settlement, where clear criminal activity was present and illegal dwellings lined the streets. During the visit, Sophiatown CPF chairperson Tully Michaels’ vehicle was broken into and a bag was stolen.

Ward 117 councillor Tim Truluck commented, “We constantly tell people not to leave items in their vehicle. I wonder if the CPF chair fell foul of this common mistake.”

ANC Public Relations councillor for Ward 69 Cathy Seefort said, “The crime is out of control and by visiting with the community we can gather where the problems from a grass root level come from.”

The Westbury flats shed a shocking light on the situation residents face in the area. Huntely said, “There are many ‘lolly lounges’ operating. Just the other night we had to try rescue a three-year-old child from a drug-ridden house.” ‘Lolly lounges’ are family homes that have been taken over and run by drug syndicates. It gets its seemingly innocent name from the shape of the glass pipe used to smoke crystal meth and is shaped like a lolly pop. Young girls are lured into the flats with free drugs and then usually proceed to prostitution and drug addiction.

Nkosi-Malobane commented, “SAPS, JMPD and the CPF need to step up and the community needs to see clear action in crime hotspots.”

A public meeting was held at the Westbury Recreation Centre involving the community and Nkosi-Malobane. Concerns over unemployment, robbery of elderly people, substance abuse and robbery of public transport commuters were discussed.

DA Member of Parliament James Lorimer handed a petition with over 2 000 signatures to Nkosi-Malobane, requesting urgent police intervention in the Melville Koppies Nature Reserve.

“Criminal gangs living on the Melville Koppies have been operating undeterred for the past three years,” said Ward 69 councillor Katja Naumann. “As the four recent murders as well as countless muggings, smash and grab incidents as well as violent house burglaries in the area indicate, the crime rate in the Sophiatown Police precinct has reached alarming levels and the residents have had enough.”

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