Fighting crime one man at a time
Richards Bay man steps up to help create a safe community.
GIVEN the recent hike in reports of criminal activity in Empangeni, one Richards Bay man stepped up to make a difference.
Linton Shore (32) spent his weekend chopping down overgrown bushes in the area adjacent to the pathway leading up past the flats from Piet Retief Street to Loftheim Road in Empangeni.
Business Against Crime Manager Dave Whittaker who runs an interactive Facebook page ‘Empangeni –Reporting Criminal Activity’ was inundated with reports of the danger the overgrown bushes pose as it is used as a hiding place for criminals, and thus put forth a challenge.
‘The overgrown area is apparently helping criminals to hide and then attack and rob people walking through there. I thought it might be nice to get the residents of the area to do something about it and that’s when I put forward a challenge. The only way to make your area safer is to be proactive,’ said Whittaker.
Enter Shore
‘I am originally from Empangeni, as a youngster I actually lived at Hamilton Lodge on Loftheim Road. I decided that on Saturday morning, I would dedicate two hours of my time helping,’ said Shore.
On Saturday morning, Shore drove through to Empangeni and in two hours, with a panga managed to trim all the bushes on the right hand side toward Loftheim Road.
However, without a van or adequate funding, Shore was not able to dump the rubble and instead neatly piled it up in one spot.
‘Imagine how much we could have done if nine more people had volunteered to help. Thank you to Jesus, His will be done. Domestic workers in the vicinity were very grateful and I got many a ‘good mornings’ and ‘siyabonga’s’ which made my day!’ said Shore.
PHOTO: Carmen Fernandes
I am in the UK at the moment (2 months ) read your article in the Observer. Wish there were more friendly and concerned people like Linton Shore around. We’ll done. Hope the Emp. Municipalitie read the same article. Keep it up. Manie Malan.