Violent crime coming soon to Lakefield, residents warned
“Violent crime coming soon to Lakefield.”
That is the warning issued to residents of Lakefield who form part of the Lake West Residents’ Association (LWRA) enclosure.
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Lakefield residents in a security turmoil
A campaign was launched in October to warn residents of impending crime in the suburb should people not pay towards the cost of the enclosure.
Teresa Settas, a committee member of the LWRA, said the posters warning people of what’s to come are not shock tactics, but “reality”.
In an open letter penned by Settas to residents of Lakefield, she pleaded with people to pay towards the booms.
Failure to do so would see the booms removed by December 1.
“Simple maths dictates that you can’t operate successfully with 65 per cent of residents not contributing to the upkeep of the enclosure,” she said.
She said it cost over R2-million to have the area closed off about 10 years ago.
“When things were dire with regular, violent crime in the area, we had close to 89 per cent of people contributing and actively helping and pushing to get the enclosure approvals through,” the hijacking survivor said.
“Now with things under control and virtually crime-free, we have to beg and plead for residents to keep it that way.
“It seems there’s nothing quite like a murder next door, a violent hijacking with your children in the car, or a rape of a mother, daughter, sister or grandmother to get people to wake up and take notice.
“Sadly, all the traumatic motivation of dodging a bullet in those heady days seems to have worn thin.”
Settas said the campaign, which included the erection of posters warning of impending crime, has worked “very well”, with about three new sign-ups a day and many enquiries.
Of the 2 000 dwellings, there is a contribution from 468.
Settas said the booms will remain for the month of December, but she said unless more people make financial commitments to the upkeep of the enclosure, it will disappear.
The Benoni Police Station did not reply to questions about the effectiveness of ‘gated communities’ stopping or displacing crime.
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