Take back the streets

BEREA CPF Sector 1 held its monthly meeting recently where various speakers addressed the community.

Ward councillor, Jethro Lefevre spoke about taking the neighbourhood back and mentioned that police were understaffed, undermanned and underpaid and residents could not put all responsibilities onto them.

“Be proactive, come out from behind your high walls and support the CPF meetings. Executive body meetings will report back on crime stats from the police and people need to join the Berea CPF Facebook page to feed information to the police,” he said.

Peter Rose from Umhlanga Tourism spoke to residents about how the UIP in Umhlanga has successfully rid the area of vagrants, beggars and street children.

“UIP’s mains concerns are cleaning, greening, safety and security. It is a legal entity where 66 per cent of residents in the area need to be agreeable to the concept. A partnership agreement is signed with the council and a further percentage is levied on rates,” he said.

Rose said the Umhlanga UIP was initiated in 2003 and significant improvement had taken place in terms of security as cameras monitor public areas and car guards are regulated. In conjunction with SAPS and Metro Police the area is kept free of beggars and vagrants.

Deena Naidoo, SAPS head of Sector 1 CPF gave a report back on crime in the sector and mentioned theft of motor vehicles and housebreakings were on the increase with many criminals being armed with knives.

“Motor vehicles are also being accessed by the use of remote jammers. Don’t leave any valaubles in your vehicle. Regarding beggars and street children, Do not give them money,” he said.

Paul Antao, Sector head of the CPF, said: “Police reservists are no longer part of our community due to criminal elements previously having found benefit in being reservists. Our streets should be well lit and trees and shrubs trimmed so that visibility is good.

We need to depend on ourselves first, that is secure your property and belongings. Take the initiative to rid your area of vagrants so that police can concentrate on the criminals. Report all crimes, no matter how trivial. Police are assigned to each sector dependant on the crime level in that sector,” he said.

The next Sector 1 meeting will be on Tuesday 17 September at La Bella, Stephen Dlamini Road, at 5.30pm for 6pm. Invite your friends and neighbours and support the fight against crime in your area.