The promise of a better tomorrow plays heavily on the minds of the residents of Barry Hertzog Park.
Over the weekend, stakeholders gathered at Panorama Combined School for the annual Ward 5 meeting.
The meeting commenced just after 2.30pm, and despite the poor turnout, those in attendance seemed ready to plead their case.
Moving to item five on the agenda, residents were requested to disclose the issues and concerns they had identified since their last official encounter.
The crime rate, drinking in some public and communal housing were of the first topics brought to the attention of Ward 5 Councillor, Lindiwe Khoza. “Drinking in public is a very serious offence that we need to address,” said community member, Johan Harmse.
In addition, a resident claimed that although Cllr Khoza made several promises to resolve the issues at hand back in 2015, nothing had transpired to date.
“Barry Hertzog Park is becoming like Madadeni with all the communal houses and the noise. We can’t take it anymore!”
Dialing back to the debate surrounding drinking in the public sphere, Community Policing Forum (CPF) Chairperson, Bheki Zikalala said it was legal in the province.
“There’s nothing the police can do. This law has been passed by the KwaZulu[-Natal] government either last year or the year before.” Touching on the pertinent issue of crime in the area, Mr Zikalala claimed burglars did not break into homes with the intention of keeping their ill-gotten gains.
In his experience, he said thieves steal in order to sell the items at reduced rates. “Who is buying them? We are! As long as there is a market, people will buy,” he alleged.
No laughing matter
Having to deal with drunk and disorderly behaviour has become commonplace to residents, compelling them to rely solidly on the support of police.
Mr Zikalala expanded on what officers within the control room were forced to endure on a daily basis, while logging calls from across Newcastle.
“I wish you could spend half a day at the police station listening to your children phoning and swearing at the police using your telephones,” he stated vehemently. “Three out of four calls are children swearing at officers.”
In terms of the protocol when contacting the police, Mr Zikalala said callers should start by introducing themselves, and finding out who they are talking to.
“Remember, they are human beings too,” he advised.
A troublemaker’s paradise
A second resident, who, for the purpose of the article will be referred to as Jane, highlighted the horrendous state of the Barry Hertzog Park shopping complex. “There are serious health and dumping problems at the centre.
There is ash on the pavements where the school children are supposed to walk.
“I just feel the terrible littering problem; smashed glass and urinating in public must come to an end.”
Claiming the centre had become a proverbial ‘monster’, Jane blamed the law legalising drinking in public and the establishment of a Shisa Nyama in the parking lot.
“We have to lobby and have bylaws drawn up as soon as possible to make public drinking an offence in Newcastle,” she suggested.
Heeding the call to action Towards the end of the meeting, Mr Zikalala called for residents to join the Ward 5 CPF.
Within no time, 11 volunteers had stepped up to the plate. Mr Harmse was subsequently elected as chairperson, with Phumla Nene taking the reins as deputy chair.
While several issues are still to be dealt with, the community seemed adamant to continue its fight for intervention.
The Newcastle Advertiser congratulated the members of the CPF committee, and trusts they will strive to serve the residents of Ward 5 to the best of their ability.
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