In many places in the world, walls are built to keep things in. In South Africa, however, we build them to keep people out.
Residents of Edith Street in Sophiatown took matters into their own hands and have decided to build a wall, in the hope of keeping criminals out of their cul-de-sac.
This after the community recently lost a valued resident, Shahied Snyman, who died from a stab wound to the chest.
The area is jam-packed with crime; An open veld an infamous escape route; residents bushed by government’s inability to take action and the death of a valued community member breaks the silence as one of Johannesburg’s oldest suburbs has been turned into a “no crime zone” by residents attempting to protect Sophiatown from ram-raiding burglars.
“When I was told that Shahied had died and his murderer ran through an open space into the Koppies the first question I asked is ‘Why there is no wall here?’, because this is an open door for any perpetrator,” said Bishop Dulton Adams from the Church of Johannesburg, based in Claremont.
Having lost his childhood friend Snyman, Bishop Adams resolved to get involved.
“I was told by Tilly that they had spoken and wrote to the councillor countless times about this open space leading to the Koppies and nothing had been done so we had to do something,” he added.
“I wish I had put up the wall before a valuable life was lost,” Adams added in regret.
“I am not saying the wall will totally eradicate crime but it will certainly make the criminal think twice because we have to make it inconvenient for them [criminals] as possible to come in and out as they please in the area,”
Sophiatown resident and sister to the Mayor of Johannesburg Tilly Michaels said. Michaels alleges she has asked the ward councillor Steve Kotze countless times to ensure a fence separating the Koppies and the suburb is put up but, for years, nothing has been done.
“The area run by the Democratic Alliance (DA) is not showing any signs of what they promise people…in the two terms they have run this area nothing has been done for the community,” said Michaels.
According to Michaels, Steve Kotze is not supporting the community the way he should.
She accused Kotze of not attending community meetings and never getting involved in the local radio station to talk to the Sophiatown residents.
In response, Ward 86 Councillor Steve Kotze said the residents he represents are his main focus.
“I will always focus primarily on the needs of residents, it is obvious to me that the overture and tone of these allegations are politically engineered,” said Kotze.
Kotze added that he was informed about the open veld being an exit route for criminals and he advised residents to draw up a petition to the city, but “when [he] followed up on this matter, it became clear that these residents chose not to draw up a petition”.
“It is of concern to me when the regrettable and tragic death of a resident is used for politicking reasons,” he said.
“I have attended numerous meetings of the Sophiatown Residents’s Association. When I have been unable to attend due to other Ward commitments, minutes of meetings have not been sent to me over the past two years despite me repeatedly asking for them…”he added.
Regarding crime in the area, Kotze said he has set up a WhatsApp group in Sophiatown to communicate crime alerts to residents and to receive information related to crime and council service delivery on a ‘real-time’ basis.
“I have also been instrumental in a Neighbourhood Watch initiative which aims at voluntary citizen patrols through Sophiatown. During rolling electrical blackouts, I have asked for increased police presence in affected areas,”he added.
“I will continue to make myself available to assist residents wherever and whenever needed in my capacity as the elected Ward Councillor for Ward 86,”concluded Kotze.
In response to Kotze, Michaels said she is not a political card carrying member of any political party and does not use her connections without following procedure.
Michaels concluded by stating that she is fighting from a community stand point.
Sophiatown residents – what is your take on this?
