IT is an understatement that the community of the South, especially Ward 56 and 57, is livid. This is against the backdrop of crime, drugs, house hijacking, prostitution and lack of services in the area.
On October 7 some of the concerned residents called a meeting at The Greenhouse, corner Southern Klipriviersberg and Yestor streets, The Hill, to discuss ways in which they can curb these problems.
Among the attendees were Ward 56 and 57 councillors, Clr Michael Crichton and Clr Faeeza Chame, security companies and CPF.
Bullied by criminals
Although the community was angry, they mentioned that they want to solve these problems amicably and as a unit. They said criminals in the area are bullying them. “Crime is affecting everyone. It is sad that these crimes are now affecting our children. This will, in turn, breed more criminals in the future. We need to do whatever we can to protect our children from this pandemic on our streets.
“We share the space with these criminals as they live in our areas. We have the right to stand up and say enough! All stakeholders need to be on board to help us fight this, but again not violently,” explained one of the community members.
Back to square one
During the meeting, residents were given the opportunity to share their experiences and concerns.
A Regents Park resident, who wishes to stay anonymous, said, “I’ve lived in Regents Park for the past 25 years. The area has changed dramatically over the years. In the last couple of years I can say we’ve been swallowed up by the criminal elements. We have drug dealings, house hijacking, ongoing incessant noise, people threatened and mugged. We have no recourse from legal authorities. We are being terrorised in our own backyards and all this is an ongoing process. The area is getting worse day by day.”
Another resident made mention of a raid on a problem house which is appreciated, however, as the resident, who also wishes to remain anonymous, stated: “After that, it was back to square one. We cannot do anything. I mean these are our properties but our hands are tied.”
“It is so sad that residents and often children have to be bullied like this. Children need to enjoy their youth days but not like this. It is heart-breaking,” she said.
Take back the area
There are lots of other problems in the area, problems like nightclubs which is going almost 24-hours a day and the mushroom of illegal churches – sometimes five churches in one street.
A La Rochelle resident, who didn’t want his name mentioned, said he was recently stabbed by a man who followed him from the shop. “I say if we can call out all the good guys in the area and fight this, we will win. We can make it work as a team, we can outnumber the bad guys and take back our areas,” he said.
One representative from a security company said these criminals are now violent and she urged the community not to resist when they are being hijacked or robbed because they will be hurt and maybe even shot. “The human life means nothing to them (the criminals),” she said.
A man whose house has been hijacked four months ago said he had gone to three different police stations (Booysens, Moffatview and Joburg Cluster) including the Hawks. “The main instigators in my case are locals. They are all South Africans and there are no foreigners. The most discouraging thing is that the police still think this is not a crime and they cannot do anything. My daughter has also spoken to the Minister of Police and still nothing has happened. I have lost R152 000 in rent and municipal service money in the past four months” he said.
A follow-up meeting will be called and the residents are urged to attend to raise their issues. The COURIER will notify the residents in advance about the meeting.
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