EMPANGENI is a town in the grip of crime; a fear-ridden community living behind the forced sanctuary of burglar bars and electric fences.
These were the sentiments expressed by community members who finally reached breaking point last weekend when at least four homes were burgled in one night and a family was held hostage.
Leaders in the constant fight against crime called for an urgent meeting to make a concerted effort to curb the crime spike that has seen families becoming victims.
More than 200 concerned citizens gathered at Amble Inn in solidarity on Monday evening.
Spearheaded by Empangeni Neighbourhood Watch founder Kathy Wiborg as well as ex-policeman and business owner Preggy Vandayar, the meeting revealed the extent of deep-seated fear and frustration that have become a part of daily life.
Ward 9 Councillor Erwin Palmer and Ward 23 Councillor Andre de Lange as well as recently appointed Empangeni Sector One Commander Captain Dup Herselman were also in attendance.
By the end of the evening, three ultimatums had been laid down – one to the police, one to council and one to local security companies.
Police performance
Vandayar, who was noted as the guest speaker, immediately took charge of the room, walking among attendees to be heard.
‘Looking back at the years, I think it was 1998, the whole town marched to the Civic Centre in Empangeni complaining about the same issue that we are discussing tonight,’ he said.
‘Our police were ineffective, inefficient and lazy.
‘We felt they were not concerned about us, the residents of Empangeni.
‘The crime rate was spiralling, people were being shot, guys were being killed, business people were being shot on their business premises.
‘And we finally said, enough is enough.’
He slammed current elements within the police force, driving his point home with several examples of times the police had failed to provide a service.
‘How often have you phoned the police, and they tell you they do not have a vehicle available? When was the last time you saw policemen doing foot patrols?
‘We need to stand together again, and write a petition to the Minister of Police to say this: these policemen signed a code of ethics. We don’t want them, because they don’t work.
‘Give us policemen who work.’
Council challenged
To loud cheers, Vandayar launched a scathing diatribe against City councillors, saying residents had voted for them because they trusted them.
‘Do not break that trust by robbing us.
‘You earn a salary every month, while we are victims. Our parents and children are victims. It is time you earned that salary.’
Community crime fighting initiatives agreed at the meeting were that a proposal and plans would be brought before council to have Empangeni turned into a ‘gated community’.
According to Vandayar the same request had been delayed for many years by Council, who said the by-laws did not allow the fencing off of
suburbs and installation of boom gates for access control.
‘We are asking you councillors who are here with us tonight: do something different from the rest, and help us get that by-law revoked.’
‘Felixton has the lowest crime rate in Zululand, simply because of security measures in place there. We are asking, if Felixton can have it, why can’t we?’
‘Securinet’ revival mooted
A challenge was also issued to security companies in the form of a proposal for a central control room.
‘The idea is simple – we as the businessmen in Empangeni can fund it, and no one will make a profit.
‘But if you think about it logically, if a call goes out of a robbery in progress at a home, the security company that person is contracted to might not be close by.
‘However, another security company patrol vehicle could be just around the corner.’
Vandayar said he would be approaching companies in the area in the near future to discuss his plans to unite the security companies under one roof.
‘Every company will obviously keep its own clients. But by working together, we can stop crime in its tracks.
Cllrs Palmer and De Lange both answered questions on service delivery-related issues, despite the agenda allowing only for crime related problems.
A follow-up meeting has been pencilled on the agenda to take place in the first week of June with the exact date to be announced.
While this process unfolds however, the burden remains on tax payers to protect their streets, out of their own pockets and at their own risk.
Update: A follow up meeting which will be attended by the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Ravi Pillay, has been confirmed for 5.30pm on Friday, 27 May again at Amble Inn.
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