Poor turnout at Safety Forum meet
Residents were encouraged to get involved in the fight against crime at the recent Bulwer Community Safety Forum meeting.
THERE was a disappointing turnout to Bulwer Community Safety Forum's (BCSF) monthly meeting on Tuesday night.
Chairperson, Heather Rorick expressed her disappointment at the decreasing numbers of people attending the meeting and said many residents raised complaints on social media but did not seem to take an active interest in attending meetings and finding out what was happening in their community.
“Fighting crime is not easy. It seems people are feeling crime is winning, and the community is letting themselves and the police down. We had a street meeting in Esther Roberts Road with Mzansi, but this was also poorly attended. People need to start taking an interest and joining patrols,” said Rorick.
She discussed the fundriasers the BCSF had planned to raise money to buy the Umbilo police reservists blue lights and sirens. She appealed to the community for sponsorship for these items.
Rorick appealed to the community to come forward to donate items and time to spruce up the Umbilo SAPS charge office.
“We need people such as carpenters to come forward to help us put in cubicles in the charge office. We also need donations of paint, and people who would be willing to give up time to help paint. We would also like someone to help us install a wheelchair ramp to the station commissioner's office,” she said.
If anyone can help, they are urged to contact Heather on 074 203 2792.
Turning to crime, Rorick cautioned the community not to visit ATMs at night, as this was very risky.
“While we are on patrols we have seen women stopping to draw money at midnight and 1am. Only FNB has a security guard, people are taking big risks by doing this,” she said.
She said people should not be walking around at night on the streets. She spoke of an incident on Saturday at 9pm where a woman and her daughter were attacked, and the woman badly stabbed in Ferguson Road.
“It is dangerous to walk around at night. Please be careful. I have seen people shopping late at Checkers, then walking home. People are getting mugged,” she said.
