The community of Sophiatown is mourning following the murder of two residents. In a statement released by the Sophiatown Neighbourhood Watch (SNW), said that their patrollers responded to a house robbery that ultimately ended in the murders.
The statement read, “On 19 October at around 1pm SNW was alerted to a house robbery where two elderly residents were killed in Annadale Street. Patrols responded to the scene and found that Sophiatown police were on the scene.”
The news of the murder has shocked the community to its core, according to the chairperson of SNW Dauw Steyn. “We have no words for this loss. As a community, we are stunned and deeply saddened by the senseless killing. We would like to call on the police and the justice system to ensure that the suspects arrested face the full might of the law.”
SNW has committed itself to check up on the elderly. Steyn said, “We will be visiting all the elderly in the area again and we will make sure they know there is assistance out there and how they can access that assistance.”
They will also be consulting with security companies to have special rates for the elderly and providing them with specific attention and protection.
Local Community Policing Forums have also been advised to roll out more programmes of action to protect the elderly and to ensure that they know how to protect themselves. SNW has also called on the government and public to do more to protect one of society’s most vulnerable groups – the elderly.
SNW has put out a warning to criminals. It reads, “Enough is enough! Criminals must now know that you have been put on notice that we will not tolerate your actions anymore.”
SNW and the Westdene-Sophiatown Residents Association have offered their condolences and support to the affected family and to the Sophiatown community as a neighbourhood watch.
