A civic-minded resident, concerned with ‘rampant lawlessness’ taking place in Toti, has started a petition addressed to the mayor of the eThekwini Municipality, Durban Metro Police and South African Police Service to demand a permanent police presence and regular patrols in the Toti area.
Shayne McGee (44), a Beach Road resident and estate agent, started a Facebook page, Amanzimtoti neighbours take back the neighbourhood, after the petition.
“We ask for your signature in support of this petition, which we will present to eThekwini Municipality, Durban Metro Police and SAPS,” said Shayne on the petition.
“Your individual voice will be heard, because together thousands of people use this four kilometre stretch of road in Beach Road everyday. We all pay out millions of rands in rates and taxes, plus licence fees to the Ethekwini Municipality and the SA government. We fund them and pay their salaries and they are responsible to make our area safe. They are clearly not doing their jobs and it’s time we hold them accountable. This is our home, a residential area and we demand visitors and other citizens respect it.”
Among the demands on the petition are:
* No more illegal trading on the sidewalks, promenade and on the beaches;
* Zero tolerance to drunk and disorderly behaviour in public;
* Zero tolerance to excessive noise pollution through street racing, unnecessary revving of motorcycles and vehicles, and playing loud music;
* Zero tolerance to littering;
* Zero tolerance to urinating in public and public indecency;
* No more homeless people allowed to occupy the parks, vacant land and shop and building doorways, and for Metro Police to relocate these people to shelters and organisations for the homeless;
* No more drug dealing on the streets;
* No more relocating homeless people from the city centre by Metro Police to the Toti area.
Shayne, who grew up in Toti, said the biggest problem he faces is apathy from residents. “Don’t complain, get involved. I have seen some visible policing since the last murder in Beach Road. It shows we have the resources, so why aren’t we getting them on a continued basis?”
Join the Facebook group, Amanzimtoti neighbours take back the neighbourhood to offer your support and show that you are gatvol of the lawless element in Toti, and sign the petition at https://chn.ge/1CYLH27
