Sheppie CBD marshal patrols to cease in new year
Maphumulo says they have tried all business and the municipality to help them but none have joined the party.
Efforts by the taxi industry to keep Port Shepstone CBD a crime-free zone is no longer feasible.
Chairperson of the South African National Taxi Council in the Ugu region, Lizwi Maphumulo says they have run out of funds and can no longer afford to pay marshals patrolling in the CBD.
Maphumulo says they have tried to get businesses and the municipality to help them, but none have come to the party.
“We have exhausted our funds and cannot carry on paying them because it’s now affecting our own pockets.”
In May this year, Maphumulo made a presentation to Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM) council for resource assistance such as uniforms, raincoats, transport and radios for communication for the marshals.
He says until now they have not had feedback.
The marshals started patrolling the CBD after the town and surrounding areas were over-run by vagrants, criminals and drugs traffickers. Businesses were suffering, shoppers were being robbed daily, as well as the elderly of their monthly pensions.
After the marshals took over, Port Shepstone was recognised as one town in KZN without ‘paras’.
Maphumulo says the intention was to stop the marshal service immediately but they considered commuters since it is December holidays.
“It is the festive season that is when most people are targeted by criminals, so we thought of our commuters but at the beginning of the new year we will not be operating the service.”
The spokesperson for RNM, Simon April was contacted for comment but none had been received at the time of going to print.
The Saps was also contacted about plans to help control crime in the CBD but no response was received.
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