‘We can’t live like this’ – Mayberry Park residents demand urgent action amid crime and neglect
Once a quiet suburb, Mayberry Park is now gripped by fear as crime surges and basic services fall apart. Residents say they’ve had enough—and they are taking matters into their own hands.
Residents of Mayberry Park in Alberton say they are living in fear and frustration as escalating crime and poor service delivery continue to plague their once-peaceful community.
From murders and burglaries to overgrown parks and pothole-ridden roads, the neighbourhood is crying out for urgent intervention – and many feel abandoned by the City of Ekurhuleni and local political leadership.
A community living in fear
The latest tragedy that has rocked Mayberry Park was the recent murder of a resident during a night-time robbery.
While his wife survived the attack unharmed, the incident has left the community shaken and uncertain of what exactly transpired. The suspect remains at large.
But this is not the first violent crime in the area. In 2023, a woman was raped in one of the parks, which had long grass at the time, providing cover for the perpetrator.
Fourteen years ago, another resident was killed during a robbery. These tragic incidents are now part of a grim pattern that haunts residents.
“Our crime rate is absolutely out of it,” said Garfield Venter, owner of React-24 Security. “We’re going to start putting security guards in certain places where we will patrol the streets. We need the community to help us to make it happen.”
According to resident Robin Venter, burglaries are a weekly occurrence.
“There is a burglary every week – up to three per week,” he said.
Domestic workers are also frequently targeted by criminals, prompting them to walk in groups in hopes of staying safe.
“Something must be done. We can’t live like this. Just a few days ago, one of our neighbours had his car tyres stolen – all four, gone,” added another concerned resident, Dudu Kekana.
Genevieve Wilson, who has lived in the area for 14 years, knows the pain of violent crime all too well.
“My husband was murdered in my house in Mayberry Park. The crime rate is ridiculous. We do not get any correspondence from councillors. You can see the state of our roads. We have little children wanting to play in these parks, but look at it. It’s unacceptable,” she said.
“I’ve even had motorbikes stolen through the back of my property. Now the criminals are clever as they jump over the front wall. That’s why there are beams everywhere. It’s ridiculous,” she added.
Community members take security into their own hands
With fear mounting among the community, residents like Malcolm Stuart have taken extra security measures to protect their homes.
“I stay with my daughter. At 02:00 in the morning, I’m still awake watching what’s going on in the area. They say if you see something, do something, and we do that,” Stuart said.
Venter and his team at React-24 are stepping in to fill the void left by law enforcement and city officials.
He believes the only way to restore safety is for the community to unite and support new patrol initiatives. He is equally critical of the local leadership.
“CPF from Alberton, in conjunction with the SAPS, arrange meetings at the community hall. Our councillors don’t even attend that meeting. It’s unacceptable. I’m not going to take that. As the owner of React-24, I’m not going to stand for that. I need to protect my community. The councillors need to be there,” Venter declared.
Rotting infrastructure and broken promises
Mayberry Park residents say crime is just one piece of a larger problem. The area is also battling severe neglect and poor service delivery.
Parks are overgrown, roads are crumbling, and basic services are non-existent or slow to respond.
“How long has the park been like this? Months. You don’t want to know,” said Venter.
JG Strydom Road, a major road in the area, is covered in tall grass, and potholes on residential roads remain unrepaired for months, posing a hazard to motorists.
“They don’t even maintain our roads. The residents of Mayberry Park pay rates and taxes. Why is the council not doing anything? When you manage to speak with them they say, ‘We don’t have diesel, our tractors are broken.’ We pay rates and taxes.
“You earn a salary so you can sort our problems out. It’s as easy as that. It’s a simple solution. But they’re too quick to take people’s money and not give anything back to the community,” Venter fumed.
Stuart echoed these concerns, naming the persistent issue of broken street lights.
“I have been living in Mayberry Park for 44 years and in the last five years, we noticed a decline in the area. I haven’t had a street light out of my place for three months now. Last year I had the same issue. It took them from April until September to come and fix the lights.”
Reservoir a breeding ground for criminals
Another focal point of community frustration is the water pump house on Matumi Street.
Residents claim it has become a haven for criminals due to its broken fence and lack of regular patrols.
“The fence by the water pump house is broken. People go in and out there. Before, we had a guard who was patrolling there. That was helping us. Now, when we get a burglary, we notify the security company. But by the time they get here, the criminals have already run away and they hide at the back of the reservoir,” said Stuart.
“The community has also complained about criminals staying in the reservoir and nothing is done. The reservoir is covered with grass,” he added.
Legal action on the horizon
To address the worsening conditions, Venter says he’s bringing in legal reinforcements.
“I had Supreme Court advocates with me this morning. I showed them what was happening. So, from the Act 24 side, from the Supreme Court side, we are now going to institute action against the water board, Eskom, and those responsible for the fuel line. They need to start taking care of their servitude,” he explained.
A call for leadership
The loudest cry from Mayberry Park is not just for security or clean parks, but for leadership. Many residents feel abandoned by their ward councillors.
“But the councillors need to pull finger. They don’t even answer our emails. It’s not acceptable. They’re getting paid to do their jobs and that’s why we had to ask you now to please help us,” said Wilson.
As Mayberry Park stands at a tipping point, its residents are demanding not only protection from criminals, but also respect, dignity, and basic services from those elected to serve them.
For now, the community continues to rely on one another – and the efforts of organisations like React-24 – to stay afloat.
But with fear growing and patience wearing thin, the message from Mayberry Park is loud and clear: enough is enough.
City yet to respond
The Alberton Record reached out to the City of Ekurhuleni via email to enquire about the ongoing issues raised by Mayberry Park residents, including crime, poor service delivery and the condition of public infrastructure.
At the time of publication, no response had been received.
