An emergency meeting between the community of Helderkruin, the police and other stakeholders took place on 4 September at Laerskool Helderkruin.
The meeting came as a result of Dean and Storm Strang’s desperate pleas to Major-General Phumzo Gela (Deputy Police Commissioner for visible policing) and Mr Andy Mashaile (Gauteng CPF Provincial Board Chairperson) who both attended the meeting. Other top brass from the police in attendance were Roodepoort Station Commander Brigadier Khupiso, Cluster Commander Reddy, Roodepoort Police spokesperson Nonhlanhla Khumalo and Colonel André Laing. Various other top Roodepoort cops were also in attendance.
The focus of the meeting was on Helderkruin Hill and specifically the crime wave that hit Skyhawk Close and Boeing Drive the past two weeks. There have been seven incidents in two weeks in an area with approximately 60 houses. According to Dean Strang the attacks are violent in nature and gangs of up to nine members have been noted.
The Strangs have been victims themselves twice and have moved temporarily out of their house, but they say it is not so much because of the crime than because of their neighbours’ behaviour.
“My neighbours think I took the cowardly route but we moved because everyone is armed and on the edge. Some residents patrol at night with their firearms and there were a few incidents where careless shots were fired. This poses a big risk for me and my family. Every time an alarm goes off the street is flooded by armed neighbours,” says Strang.
“All we want is for the professionals to protect us. That is why we called the police. If they can become part of the solution then residents do not have to run around in the middle of the night, tired and armed, ” he says.
The tension between the Strangs and their armed neighbours was obvious at the meeting.
According to Strang the solution is twofold. In the short term better policing is needed. He says the big problem is the fact that the boomed-off area is 90 per cent enclosed but has a corridor of approximately 80m that is not closed off. This the criminals use as an access point to launch their attacks and then escape down the koppie again.
The Strangs and other residents are working with Councillor Suzanne Clarke and have petitioned the City to build a concrete palisade that will close off the access corridor as well.
“I hope this would happen sooner than later. I want to move back to my house,” says Mrs Strang who is currently living with family.
The police allegedly had to warn residents agains recklessly discharging their firearms after a recent incident.
Another concern for the Strangs is the fact there is a nursery school right at the access corridor where some of the shooting took place.
Those affected were to visit the area with the police on 5 September.
