HAZYVIEW- The attack on a school group at a Hazyview resort was covered extensively over radio and in the press and led to Col Leonard Hlathi acknowledging publicly that the crime levels in Hazyview were unacceptably high and that drastic measures would be implemented to address it. He did not provide detail as to what these drastic measures would be which still leaves Hazyview and its residents to their own devices to ensure their safety.
“How many more people must be attacked, injured or murdered in our town before the government and SAPS pays attention to us!” says a resident who wishes to stay anonymous. Most residents are reluctant to be identified when speaking to the media for fear of reprisals. Added to this there are many more who do not want to speak up about the crime for fear of driving away the tourists.
Ken Robertson, DA councillor Hazyview, believes that the crime issue can no longer be ignored or kept quiet. “Crime, especially violent crime in the area has escalated during the past few years, and although Col Hlathi believes that changing the management of the local police station may bring some relief, police need to be more proactive in their response”, says Robertson.
Since 2012 Robertson and Anthony Benadie , DA provincial leader Mpumalanga, has had various interactions with Lt. Gen. Ntobela, premier David Mabuza and Vusi Shonwe, safety and security Mec, to address the issue of crime in Hazyview. During these the DA suggested the that a re-evaluation of Hazyview’s resident/police official ratio be done, visible policing must be increased, specialised K9 and motorcycle units must be deployed on a permanent basis and the repair and maintenance of the local cluster police vehicle be decentralised from Nelspruit to Hazyview reducing vehicle downtime.
To date, none of the DA recommendations have been implemented, despite the successes enjoyed when some were implemented in the short term. If Lt. Gen. Ntobela and the provincial government are indeed serious about winning the war on crime in the area, they would have implemented the DA’s recommendations.
A huge vacuum was left after the phasing out of the Commando system and when a national moratorium was place on reservists. “The only effective way to curb crime now,” continues Robertson, “ is to establish rural safety units. According to our Rural Safety Strategy, RSU’s will work because they will be made up of specialised personnel who will work closely with the police and rural community safety organisations..”
Reducing crime and increasing public safety and security has been earmarked as a government priority. Yet the people of Hazyview continue to fall prey to criminals, or live in fear of becoming the next crime statistic.
Read about the attack at Aan de Vliet here.
Read our article abou the crime situation in Hazyview here.
