Community comes together against crime

At the second meeting of the suburb’s new neighbourhood watch on 4 October, community members gathered to find a solution to the area’s crime problems.

“What we’ve realised through talking to everyone is how many petty but numerous crimes are happening,” said co-founder Prenola Govender, who had been held up at gunpoint in her own driveway, and also witnessed a friend’s violent hijacking.

Govender believes the once-safe suburb is seeing a crime surge because residents have let their guard down, becoming soft targets. Most crimes, she said, seem opportunistic, and perpetrators usually flee with small, light objects such as cellphones.

The neighbourhood watch is seeking to create community bonds by introducing neighbours to each other, and forging ties with local police and council. A register of residents’ contact details will create channels of communication, allowing the community to share news of incidents and look out for each other’s safety.

The group is also investigating the possible installation of booms and cameras on its streets – a process necessitating buy-in from a considerable proportion of the suburb’s population.

The most immediate goal, however, is to fence off the lower end of Power Street, which provides access from the river and a thoroughfare for opportunistic criminals. A barrier would not only improve security, the group believes, but help prevent the illegal dumping that is common practice along the river.

“It’s our community, it’s our responsibility as well. We can’t leave it up to the government alone,” said Govender.

While some residents have responded negatively, the neighbourhood watch believes it can only improve life for the community, raising property prices and reducing illegal activity.

The group is hoping to make concrete security improvements by early December, and is urging all residents to attend its next meeting, planned for late October or early November.

Former ward councillor and resident, Lionel Keenan, has lent his support to the initiative in the belief that majority involvement and a mindset change are needed to restore safety to the suburbs.

“Crime is there because we allow it,” he said.

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