Crawford part of the solution – Greeff
As far back as 2009, I as the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) responsible for the planning department and Region F, was approached by Mr Crawford to facilitate a response to the problems that residents in the area were, and still are, facing.
Editor – In response to the article in the EXPRESS, dated March 11, 2014 regarding the problems in the Cyrildene community, I feel it is necessary to clarify the role that Mr Rob Crawford and the Community Police Forum (CPF) have played in trying to resolve the complicated problems the area faces.
As far back as 2009, I as the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) responsible for the planning department and Region F, was approached by Mr Crawford to facilitate a response to the problems that residents in the area were, and still are, facing.
We embarked on a process to identify various problematic properties and illegal activities. As a result, the city audited the buildings in the area, together with Mr Crawford, the CPF and other residents in the area.
Legal processes to deal with the various illegalities were immediately embarked on by the department.
We attended various inspections in the area led by Mr Crawford. Using the mayor’s 10 plus initiative, we piloted a programme whereby the initiative was brought closer to the residents.
I instructed council officials to avail themselves at CFP meetings, which has proved to be successful in that a relationship has been established with Mr Orphan Manama and Mr Edward Mohale, who is a deputy director for integrated service delivery in Region F.
Numerous service delivery issues have been resolved as a result of this intervention.
We held a public meeting at the beginning of 2013, where problems were discussed and where a proposed precinct plan for the area was presented. This precinct plan had been specifically developed and prioritised due to the serious challenges the area faced.
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) should be attending sector meetings as a matter of course, in terms of the executive mayor’s 10 plus programmes.
At no time over the last five years have I witnessed any abusive behaviour from Mr Crawford. In fact, I have found Mr Crawford extremely dedicated in his attempts to solve community issues. The unwarranted attack by Clr Alison van den Molen on his character is unfounded and without basis.
I believe that Mr Crawford is part of the solution and not the problem in solving issues in the Cyrildene area.
Clr Roslynn Greeff,
MMC Development Planning.
