Sheppie CBD ‘cleaner and safer’
Businesses have come forward and have saluted all role players behind the great work of cleaning Port Shepstone.
The recent crime wave that burdened Port Shepstone CBD with criminal elements saw business decline as customers fled from the town in fear of being robbed, stabbed or killed. Now, in a joint effort, the community is taking a strong stance against these criminal elements, helping restore law and order.
And many are seeing positive results already.
Business owners and shoppers have noticed the difference, and have applauded the efforts to create a safer environment. They saluted the role-players who have spear-headed the job of cleaning up Port Shepstone.
“We support you. Our business recognises your work and appreciates your efforts. We thank you, keep up this good work. Let us work, shop and do business in peace in our beloved town, together as a community,” said one business owner.
Selvan Chetty, the CPF Executive Committee chairperson, said he had noted, with concern, some social media posts critical of the tougher stance being taken against crime in Port Shepstone.
“Certain individuals and/or organisations, either by a deliberate act or omission, have misled the public by making serious allegations against the local CPFs, its volunteers and, by extension the Saps and Law Enforcement officials, of violence against ‘homeless people’ and/or the poor,” he said.
“They even allege that nine people were killed by our volunteers. We see these allegations as misleading and unfortunate and completely devoid of truth,” said Chetty.
He added that records will show that shoppers and businesses have been badly affected by criminal activities.
“The police, CPF and other stakeholders have over several years been overwhelmed due to the sheer volume of cases and the fact that many of those implicated are young people. Preliminary research by the CPF indicates that many of the young people are being used by organised criminals who use them to steal in the hope that, if caught, they will be released – as has been happening,” he said.
For the past several of months the CPF, Saps and Law Enforcement officials, as well as security companies, have experienced numerous cases where copper cables have been stolen and found in the possession of homeless people, especially those knows as ‘paras’.
“The Saps and CPF have, on numerous occasions, discouraged various NGOs from feeding the so-called homeless people in the town.
This genuinely good, humanitarian gesture has been counterproductive as we have seen a drastic rise in people from other districts and provinces flock to Port Shepstone. The situation was getting out of control and, daily, the police and CPF have had to respond to thefts, stabbings and assaults on local residents,” he said.
“We will not compromise on dealing decisively with those who choose to break the law by stealing, peddling drugs and other social ills. Most of these people who are here in the CBD are not homeless. They are beneficiaries of the government’s Human Settlements programmes in the areas where they live. They are also eligible for social welfare via the government’s social welfare programmes. We cannot and will no longer allow people to live on the streets of the CBD as this is will be in violation of our bylaws for health and safety reasons, ” said Chetty.
He encouraged all sectors of society to work with them in fighting crime. Those who have concerns or evidence of any abuses by volunteers are asked to immediately report such cases to the Saps.
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