Westdene CPF forum has positive updates on issues affecting the area

Nicholas Rosenblum, chair of the sub-Sector 1 Crime Forum (SSCF) for Westdene spoke to Nortcliff Melville Times following the forum’s latest meeting to discuss issues affecting the area.

In a positive development, he said, “The Sophiatown CPF is not currently functioning particularly well which is not a good situation to be in. In the coming weeks, there will be formal communications from the police and existing CPF structures with the various communities in the Sophiatown precinct with a call for members of the public to join us.
“As for our Westdene SSCF, we are running extremely well and are strong with our administration and interaction with our communities.” The forum holds regular meetings and provides prompt and worthwhile crime information and community notices for people to be kept abreast of new crime trends and other issues.

He said an ongoing problem that was finally getting some attention from authorities was the mushrooming number of illegal communes in Westdene. Each area in terms of town planning was allocated a certain number of communes that were allowed to be established. When that target was met, unscrupulous landlords operated illegally, which the SSCF was trying to clamp down on.

Rosenblum said, “We are asking for people to share information about what they think may be illegal communes so we can take it up with law enforcement. A new commune may be granted a licence for eight students, one of them being an on-site caretaker. Property dependent, another two may be added bringing the maximum number of students to 10.”

He described slum landlords as those who blatantly flouted regulations and disconnected houses from the water and power grids of the City of Joburg. “Tenants still have access to these services though as illegal connections, which is blatantly wrong but dangerous too. I implore people to let us know of illegal water or electricity connections in Westdene.”

A large multi-disciplinary raid of the area is expected to happen in the next few weeks involving City officials, home affairs, police, JMPD and other entities to look at the issues mentioned and illegal businesses operating in the area.

Rosenblum said he hoped more volunteers would step forward to join their street patroller programme. “We [patrollers] are the eyes and ears in our roads and suburbs who can quickly alert authorities to anything suspicious or illegal that we may see during our shifts. High visibility is also important so criminals know we are always around and may be seen and caught more easily than in other suburbs that do not have such coordinated patrollers around.”

If you would like to find out more about the Westdene SSCF or to join their street patroller programme, please email Rosenblum at info@westdenesscf.co.za

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The Fairland CPF wishes all residents and businesses a safe and prosperous 2023