KwaDukuza council rejects boom gates at business park

Calls for boom gates to protect the Ballito Business Park by night from a wave of robberies and break-ins has been turned down flat by KwaDukuza council.

Enforce security officer Moses Makhoba was killed and another seriously injured in a robbery targeting computers that was only the latest in a string of break-ins in the business park.

Now the Urban Improvement Project (UIP) has offered to pay for one or more boom gates to be used at night only, to be installed and operated from the time of business closing to opening the following day.

Ballito UIP security manager, Dieter Fittkau said the proposal submitted to KwaDukuza municipality was to erect boom gates at four of the entrance/exit points.

“The booms would be manned after hours to monitor who enters the park as well as serve as a deterrent to those intent on getting up to no good.

“In my opinion one murder in the Business Park or anywhere else for that matter is one murder to many,” said Fittkau.

Security experts believe the incident which cost Makhoba his life could have been prevented if boom gates had been installed. Makhoba was shot after attempting to stop five armed men who broke into Mangwanani Spa from getting away.

A string of recent break-ins at night and over weekends have targeted computers. Criminals mostly enter the business park by car.

Ward 22 councillor Malcolm Hubner said he fully supported any crime prevention measures.

“The UIP is employed by the ratepayers. It is their job to find solutions to decrease the crime rate in the area. These suggestions are put together because people are being proactive.

“Other areas within KwaDukuza may not have the resources to implement such actions. However, the municipality does not encourage boom gates because of the restrictions that they bring.”

The request was heard and denied at a KwaDukuza special council meeting held on August 31. DA leader Madhun Sobram Sing said the ANC caucus had indicated a preference to look at an holistic approach to crime prevention that would benefit the entire KwaDukuza region.

“The request was withdrawn on the grounds that other areas within KwaDukuza are also affected by crime and not just Ballito. It was said that a solution to combat crime should concern all areas within the region,” said Sing.

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