PACKING Berea Bowling Club to the rafters on Tuesday night (September 8), the Glenwood community came out to voice their concerns regarding the weekend’s street party on Helen Joseph Road.

The heated meeting was hosted by the Glenwood/Bulwer Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association (GBRRA) and the Bulwer Safety and Urban Regeneration Forum (BSURF).

According to the community, a scene like that, where scores of unruly revellers blocked the streets, created a highly unsafe situation.

Also read: Residents’ group takes on Davenport ‘nightlife headache’

Fears are spiralling among residents that the weekend’s saga will become a weekly headache. With little faith in law enforcement, they said the area might become a new crime hotspot.

Heather Roos, deputy chairperson of GBRRA, was impressed with the turnout and the input that followed.

“I am so impressed with Metro Police as they said to me they would attend this meeting and they kept their word, so I am hoping that they keep their words to all of us and we are going to see a huge change for the better in both Helen Joseph Road and Weston Road.

Also read: ‘Street bash’ sparks enforcement outcry in Davenport

“It was also amazing to see the support we got from the community in attending the meeting as it seriously was called at the last minute as we were bombarded by calls and messages from residents and businesses, all angry and concerned about what took place this past Saturday,” Roos said.

“We as the Glenwood Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association and the Bulwer Safety and Urban Regeneration Forum, are hoping that we can work with Metro Police, SAPS, all necessary departments within eThekwini, the ward councillor, CPF, and all other stakeholders in our community, to come up with a solution that will work and be beneficial to both residents and businesses in both problematic roads mentioned,” Roos concluded.

The Durban Metro Police spokesperson, Colonel Boysie Zungu, vowed that such an incident would never happen again. He admitted that they were caught off guard.

“We admit that we are short-staffed; however, such a crowded gathering took us by surprise. We promise that this will not be seen in this area again. We promise to return Helen Joseph Street to its former safe glory,” Zungu said.

His words were described by one community member as “talk is cheap”. The situation would not have escalated if Durban Metro police did their job every time violations are reported, said the person.

“Moving forward, we will have regular meetings with all the stakeholders, look at all the issues in the area, and formulate a plan to curb by-law and safety issues affecting the community. We are taking this matter extremely seriously. We cannot afford to lose community trust; we commit to bringing hope back,” said Zungu.

The forum reported that an unknown promoter is distributing content about another ‘street bash’ on Helen Joseph Road in October, which promises to be bigger.

Ward Councillor Fran Kristopher believes that Metro was caught off guard by the events over the weekend.

Also read: Residents, businesses seek to flee rowdy students’ street

“About what they promised, the precinct will see more enforcement and more manpower assigned over the weekends, starting from Thursday to Sunday. I am hopeful that this will come to fruition, as this is not the first time engagements pertaining to Davenport Precinct and the overall contraventions of City by-laws have been tabled.

“Residents have been bearing the deterioration of this precinct for years now. There are no consequences for those who take matters into their own hands. Restaurants and bars need to adhere to that which is outlined in their licences, including those without liquor licenses need to be brought in by the strong arm of the law.

“We’ve had enough of escalating this matter to those who are supposed to enforce the law – it’s time for them to do their jobs!”

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