Community patrollers keep neighbourhoods safe
The Honeydew/ Wilgeheuwel Patrollers group was created as a way for residents to work together to curb crime in their neighbourhoods.
Resident Teke Morudu is fed up after the complex where he resides was left in the dark for the umpteenth time due to cable theft.
In addition, criminals would exploit the frequent electricity outages, using the opportunity to break in and burgle residential units.
Morudu and a few neighbours decided to conduct night patrols in their immediate area which soon attracted the attention of more people from surrounding neighbourhoods.
This led to the formation of the Wilgeheuwel/ Honeydew Patrollers, a group currently consisting of about 20 highly dedicated residents from all walks of life who give up their late nights to roam the streets in the hope of curbing crime in the area and keeping their families safe.
Their coverage area extends from Honeydew to Wilgeheuwel, ending at Clearwater Mall, and they regularly collaborate with other patroller groups like the Power Rangers, that regularly patrol the mostly agricultural holdings areas of Honeydew.
According to Morudu, it was never the intention of the group to patrol more than their original patch in Honeydew, but the necessity became apparent after Covid, when cable theft became a huge problem throughout the Northside. Today, the group enjoys widespread support from the community and is becoming well-known for its efficacy in reducing crime in neighbourhoods.
Morudu is adamant that the Honeydew/ Wilgeheuwel Patrollers are far from just a vigilante group.
“The police and security companies are aware of us,” he says. “We work with them and we do not break the law. But the police cannot be everywhere. It is up to us to help keep our neighbourhoods safe.”
The group conducts patrols every night, especially between 2am and 5am, when cable theft is most prevalent, and by all accounts, they have had a lot of success.
While not affiliated to the official Honeydew Community Police Forum, nor sanctioned by the police, they do maintain contact with both organisations, since they share the same goals.
“The point is not to step on any toes,” says Morudu. “We are a group of residents doing our duty to keep our streets safe. We prefer to remain independent, but we are open to collaboration with any relevant community structures.”
Morudu has called for more patrollers to join.
“As residents, we have to stand up against criminals that operate in our neighbourhoods. We are keeping our families and our neighbours safe.”
For more information, or to become involved with the Honeydew/ Wilgeheuwel Patrollers, contact Morudu on 072 218 6621.
