Marshals patrolling Sheppie CBD need resources
All councillors agreed that Santaco has done a wonderful job and should be helped by all means, however ensuring that everything that they are agreeing to is written down and understood by both parties.
The South African National Taxi Council’s (Santaco) chairperson in the Ugu region, Lizwi Maphumulo made a presentation to Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM), requesting resource assistance for marshals patrolling in the Port Shepstone CBD.
RNM law enforcement, Saps and other members of Santaco were part of the presentation at a council meeting on Tuesday this week.
Maphumulo urged RNM to help them with resources, to help the marshals in town.
In 2022, the CBD was hit by a crime wave where the elderly were being mugged by ‘paras’ on pension days.
Santaco then stepped in to help as their commuters were being affected.
The CBD is now clean and safe.
Maphumulo requested if they could be provided with uniforms, raincoats, transport and radios for communicating.
“We would also like the municipality’s law enforcement to assist us with training the marshals.”
He also said that as much as the ‘paras’ are a problem, he would like to see an initiative where they are taken in somewhere and helped.
Councillors applauded Santaco for doing a great job in the CBD but also raised a few issues.
Among the issues raised, they urged the relevant department to compile a document clearly stating that the marshals are not employed by the municipality, so that in future they do not demand jobs.
Also, if the municipality provides them with transport where will they use it, as they are under Ugu meaning they might use it in other town which is not under RNM.
Council took a decision to discuss the matter further, however they agreed to help the marshals but excluded transport for now.
One councillor also asked under which entity they fell, if they are classified as Community Policing Forum or as part of RNM.
HOD Sibusiso Nzimande responded that there has been challenges classifying the marshals as part of RNM.
“For example we had asked them to do security checks as it is important, but they did not abide by that.”
Nzimande said it was difficult for the municipality not to allow Santaco to bring marshals in because at the time, the voice of the community was loud.
“People were crying out for help in the CBD and they were on Santaco’s side, we could not ignore that.”
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