I WISH to raise an old occurring issue that affects three neighbourhoods in my community.
Since 2004 we have reported the criminal activity to CPF forums around the Leeds Crescent green strip.
Every year, one of the first priorities placed on record for eThekwini and our ward 18 councillor, is to address this scourge which makes up 80 per cent of our petty crime stats for the area.
To date, nothing has transpired and the attacks on school kids, residents and passers-by have dramatically increased criminal activity in the neighbourhood, spiking in attacks in Bradford Place, Leeds Crescent, and the properties along Willow Crescent.
One house in Willow Crescent has been hit seven times by petty thugs armed with knives who live in the overgrown green strip along the M13.
These thugs all run away towards the same GPS location using the overgrown green strip to 59 Stapleton Road which is on the perimeter between Willow Crescent, Maple Road and Bradford Place.
Police members are as frustrated with call- outs and the property-owner should be accountable for the tenants living on his land.
The ward councillor needs to do more to engage all stakeholders to address this issue.
Government has indicated that it intends to build a forensic laboratory on the vacant land between M13 and Bamboo Lane since 2005.
I would like to get feedback from landowners in eThekwini and our ward councillor on what is the progress on repeated calls for help about this green belt is as the illegal dumping of old tyres and the future clean-up of this vacant land to stem the scourge of crime.
A project was started in 2017 by a farmer growing vegetables in the strip but in-house meddling and political agendas stopped the initiative and the green belt fell into disrepair.
Every year we have to chase this issue and it’s devaluing the area we have spent our livelihoods helping our community and supporting a system that again is starting to let us down.
Superman
Pro Act Neighbourhood Watch
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