WATCH: ‘We want our streets back’ – AfriForum hosts mass patrol
Residents from across Kempton Park gathered to lend a hand.
About 100 residents, police members and security personnel from across Kempton Park took hands in Birchleigh on Friday evening to make the streets safer. The mass patrol was initiated by AfriForum Kempton Park and formed part of other AfriForum mass patrols across the country.
Those on duty gathered on the corner of Cloete and Essenwood avenues and took turns to patrol the Norkem Park SAPS precinct between 6pm on Friday until 6am the following day.
“We want our streets back. We want it to be safe for our children to play again,” chairperson of Kempton Park AfriForum Jan Vermaak told Express.
According to Vermaak, AfriForum Neighbourhood Watch members from Kempton Park, Allen Grove, Birch Acres, Terenure, Birchleigh and Edleen were present.
Security companies MML, Alpha, SecPros and Black Ops also lent a hand to the cause, as well as multiple CPF groups.
“Because you don’t get paid for it, the people who were here really wanted to help,” Vermaak added.
Express joined the patrolling members at around 7pm and was met with an enthusiastic atmosphere.
When members changed shifts, they met back at the old basketball courts on Cloete Avenue, where they enjoyed cold drinks and hot dogs.
Together with chatter about their shifts, it seemed to be a normal braai. The only thing to remind an onlooker that it wasn’t, was the 20kg bulletproof vests worn by the guests.
Community members who would like to participate in patrolling their areas can contact Vermaak on 082 605 1311.
