Residents of Bloubosrand are beyond fed up with the issue of crime in their community.
Residents met on 28 January to discuss a way forward and a resounding consensus resulted in the closure of the two gates leading into the suburb on the morning of 29 January in a mass gathering.
According to residents, the issue of violent crime has spiralled out of control in the past year and they wish that more would be done to quell it.
Concerned resident John More said, “Crime is out of control. The nearby informal settlement uses our streets as a thoroughfare and thousands of trucks and other vehicles pass through our suburb every day. Criminals have free reign over our streets day and night and something has to be done.
“We have been trying for years to formally gate and fence off our suburb, and yet no approval has ever been finalised.”
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After hearing of the violent murder of a Bloubosrand resident on the evening of 27 January, the community locked the gates and fences that had already been erected to their suburb, which has been paid for at their own expense, in the hopes that the issue of crime will be thwarted. Douglasdale CPF Sector 2 chairperson Lizzy Mabena said, “One of our neighbours was gunned down in front of his family during a robbery [on 27 January], and sadly, this is a regular occurrence.”
A second shooting incident during a robbery occurred on the evening of 28 January, only a few hours after the residents’ meeting.
One road into the suburb at Riverbend Road and Vloot Street remained accessible as the only entrance and exit.
Mabena continued, “Over the past 24 months that I have been part of the CPF, I have noted that Sector 2 has the highest crime rate in the Douglasdale Policing area. We understand that we have areas with socio-economic issues nearby, but the fact the majority of people living nearby are occupying [the land] illegally, opens the area up for large amounts of criminal activity.”
She added that from 20 January, the CPF recorded 12 incidents including violent robbery, break-ins and muggings. “Being a chairperson for the CPF, we are always reminded that our police stations have a lack of resources, but how can they expect one vehicle to police over 35 square kilometre area in Sector 2? More needs to be done as this is not on.”
The Douglasdale Police Sector 2 includes the areas of Douglasdale, Farmall, Milgate, Kya Sand and Bloubosrand.
She continued, “Not only am I part of the CPF, but I am also a resident and mother who is constantly watching my back and living in fear for the safety of my children. I am always on high alert.”
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According to Mabena, the community has followed all procedures to apply for the closure of roads for several years in their suburb, but the finalisation of the submission has not been processed yet.
Although many have left the neighbourhood to live elsewhere, those that have their roots firmly grounded in this community refuse to move. “This is our community, and some of us have been living here for over 30 years. We love our community and neighbours and we will not be intimidated by elements of crime,” she concluded.
The Randburg Sun has posed questions to the Douglasdale Police Station and is waiting for their response.
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