As crime in Botha’s Hill and neighbouring suburbs has escalated in recent weeks, The Bothas Hill Community Police Forum (BHCPF) sub forum is encouraging residents to support them and become a vital part of the fight against crime.
At the recent BHCPF sub forum meeting held at the Kearsney Greyhound Club, Peter Davies, a long-term member of the Botha’s Hill CrimeStop organisation, appealed for residents to join the sub forum committee, as there were only a few stalwarts doing all the work.
Three members at the meeting rose to the request and stated they were prepared to work on the committee.
Twenty eight residents were present at the meeting, including Sifiso Mhlophe, the chair of the Hillcrest CPF, and Constable Lindiwe Zikhali from the Hillcrest Police Station.
“Their presence was greatly appreciated especially in the light of their very busy schedules, and the fact that they were attending in their private time. The supportive presence of Billy Farrell of the Assagay Community-Oriented Police (COP) was also much appreciated, as Assagay and Botha’s Hill conjoin and have similar crime problems,” said Davies.
The meeting was chaired by Adrian Joubert, interim chair of the BHCPF, who presented the latest sets of crime statistics from the Hillcrest SAPS. There was a lengthy discussion on the events recorded, as some of them had happened in Botha’s Hill, especially in Warwickshire Avenue and Old Main Road.
It was generally felt that the criminals were finding their way into Botha’s Hill via the railway line which runs to the North of Botha’s Hill.
This line has become notorious as an access and escape route for criminal elements. Paul Pollock, former Chair of the Botha’s Hill CrimeStop Initiative (which is to become the BHCPF once the CPF Constitutions have been finalised) stated that Transnet was working on the problem, including patrols up and down the line, aided by various CPF Sub forum members located along the line from Kloof to Inchanga.
He said that Transnet was appealing for assistance in the form of portable toilets that could be used by these patrols, and mentioned that there was a proposal to form a base station at the Botha’s Hill station.
In closing, the chair thanked Kearsney College for their proactive support of the BHCPF, in making the Greyhound Club available for their meetings. The next meeting will be held at the same venue and on Saturday, 21 June at 9am and thereafter on the third Saturday of every month.
Anyone wanting to know more about the Botha’s Hill Community Police Forum sub forum can contact Peter Davies on 031 941 3109 or 083 252 8206 or peter@kaytech.co.za.
