La Rochelle has become a lawless suburb – local councillor

He said this after his September 16 oversight visit in La Rochelle with Pikitup and the Environmental Health Department.

“What we found was a true testament to JMPD’s failure to enforce by-laws and MMC for Public Safety councillor Mally Mokoena’s indifference to law and order,” he said.

“The streets are filthy, with litter everywhere. The whole area can be labelled as an illegal dumping site where the majority of shops do not even have a Pikitup wheeler bin.

“In addition to this, cars are parked illegally and people are consuming alcohol, urinating and defecating in public. In these conditions fish and live chickens are being sold to restaurants from the back of bakkies.

“Contrary to the JMPD’s claim that they are focusing on Covid-19 regulations, it is clearly not the case in La Rochelle. Restaurants are preparing food and serving customers without aprons, masks or hair nets. “Even before Covid-19 these circumstances were unacceptable, and for that matter, illegal. Most restaurants are operating without health compliance certificates, without fear of being caught.

“Despite committing to join the oversight visit the JMPD only pitched up after numerous phone calls. A unit was eventually sent out. “They stayed for a few minutes and left without writing a single fine. Even when we take the JMPD to the perpetrators they are unwilling to do anything.”

He said this is an horrendous indictment on law-enforcement officers.

“The issues in La Rochelle have been left unaddressed for years. I have been asking and begging for assistance throughout my term. I approached MMC Mokoena to explain how she is managing these officers since they are clearly not fulfilling their duties. Predictably, she used Covid-19 as an excuse for her failure as a leader.

“She claims that fines are not being issued to those that are breaking the law as the JMPD has been focusing on enforcing the national lockdown regulations.

“As mentioned above this is a ridiculous response. How long will the ANC keep using Covid-19 as an excuse for not doing their job? How long will the residents of La Rochelle have to deal with this mess? Only time will tell. The DA will not stop the fight against lawlessness. Our residents deserve more,” explained Crichton.

Stakeholder manager from the office of the MMC Public Safety, Lillian Selapisa, said Crichton should know better on how to respond to matters that relate to service delivery breakdowns in his ward.

“It is his responsibility to report service delivery breakdowns and to ensure that they are attended to,” said Selapisa.

“For him to merely politicise the issues as he does in his statement is a dereliction of his duties as a ward councillor. Just to assist him and the community around the area, the JMPD has rolled out a Joburg 10+ (plus) programme which is operational in his region, where he can report all public safety matters that he has raised, including by-law enforcement.

“He should also attend the councillor forum in his region, where all these issues of service delivery are dealt with ward by ward. He can also refer all these issues to the regional director, who is the coordinator of urban management in his region.

Mokoena is committed to ensuring that there is law and order in the city and it is disingenuous of councillor Crichton to claim otherwise simply for political grandstanding,” explained Selapisa.

Furthermore, she said JMPD had many operations in La Rochelle and in Rosettenville, where numerous by-laws were vigorously enforced.

“Truckloads of goods were confiscated from illegal traders in La Rochelle. Since lockdown started on March 26, JMPD had to enforce Covid-19 regulations in terms of the National Disaster Act.

“The focus was at ensuring that everyone was told to stay home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Most of the JMPD staff had to work side by side with the SAPS and SANDF to see that people had to stay at home. JMPD had a very crucial role to play, to help in curtailing the spread of the Covid-19 virus,” she said.