The Tshwane metro police have pledged to investigate allegations that they were turning a blind eye to crime on Burnett Street in Hatfield.
The Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) were accused of failing to effectively enforce by-laws, combat crime, and deal with drunk driving in the area.
Burnett Street in Hatfield is described as a long strip of road in the east of Pretoria that is quickly turning into a mini crime, public drinking, and drunk driving hotbed.
Questions have been raised about whether TMPD were there to enforce by-laws in the area or not.
TMPD spokesperson Sergeant Rebone Molapo said they had not received any complaint about crime, however, the matter would be forwarded to the relevant regions for further investigation.
Molapo said TMPD Region 3 Sector 2 and the satellite station in Hatfield were responsible for policing the area.
“The TMPD members are deployed daily around the city including the Hatfield area to ensure compliance with the rules of the road and the by-laws.”
She said TMPD would continue to conduct drunk driving operations around the Hatfield.
“TMPD is working hard to curb crime in the city and the public is encouraged to always comply with the law and to report unlawful behaviour.”
She said the TMPD can be contacted on 012 358 7095/6.
The street is home to many student accommodation establishments, restaurants and nightclubs and several students have fallen victim to crime.
Car crashes, crowd fighting and loud music are now becoming a norm in the area with TMPD accused of missing in action.
Drag racing, fake e-hailing vehicles, cellphone snatching, deafening heavy music, lawlessness, drunken shouting, public drinking, drunk driving and vomiting on pavements are some of the issues that have been identified.
Head of security for the Hatfield CID, Deon van Rensburg, said the streets were full of students from Thursday until Sunday.
“It is difficult to drive past Burnett Street on those days as a lot of vehicles are parked on the sidewalks and even on the street.”
Van Rensburg said after the nightclubs close at 02:00, patrons throw mini parties, playing loud music from their cars. They settle on the streets in camping chairs and cooler boxes and are guilty of public drinking.
He said they are concerned about the fact that patrons move out onto the sidewalk, where they continue drinking and making a noise.
“Residents of a block of flats opposite the club are tired of all-night noise made by drunken patrons until after 06:00.
Where are the TMPD to enforce the by-laws? Where are the TMPD to conduct drunken driving operations on this street to deal with the drivers drinking outside the clubs till the morning?
We are faced with a serious problem as they urinate and make a mess everywhere since the clubs have closed and there are no bathrooms.”
He said over 70% of the Hatfield CID’s budget goes into safety.
“We are committed to making this place a safe place, however, we cannot do it alone. We need more visibility from the TMPD because we see the police are being helpful.”
He said that it is mainly where the TMPD is needed to move the cars off the road and prevent cellphone snatching.
Van Rensburg emphasised that the most serious problem is corruption, claiming officers are taking bribes which overshadows the good work done by the Hatfield CID.
“We need the badges on the ground. Police have demonstrated to be on our side, working with us. We plead for the same with TMPD, they need to enforce the law, they need to move vehicles away from the streets into designated areas, they need to deal harshly with drunk drivers.”
Also Read: Burnett Street in Hatfield quickly turning into a mini strip of crime and lawlessness
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