Bramley Police Station’s new station commander, Lieutenant Colonel Lionel Chetty, aims to work with the community in reducing crime.

The Lieutenant Colonel was introduced to members of Bramley Sector 2’s Community Policing Forum at a meeting held on April 15.

Chairing the meeting was the CPF chairperson, Clinton Powys, who introduced Bramley SAPS members, CPF sector 2’s executive committee, Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) representatives and the Midway Mall property owners in attendance.

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In his address, Chetty said that he was no stranger to the appointment. “I have 35 years of policing experience and have been a station commander before at other police stations. I have also worked at small and bigger police stations, and I look forward to knowing the Sector 2 community.”

He highlighted that he aimed to support the community in crime reduction and believed in an open-door policy in communicating with them.

Powys listed longstanding grievances regarding JMPD, which included:

• An illegal spaza shop on the pavement at 107 11th Road, Kew.
• Spaza shop on 2nd Avenue has taken over the pavement and is used for parking
• Vehicles are improperly using the Rea Vaya bus lanes and are blocking bus lanes to make U-turns.
• School congestion: Eastwood Christian School on Silwood Road results in uncontrollable traffic after school.
• There is an illegal taxi rank on Scott Street and Corlett Drive, which sees taxis parking from 14:00-17:00. There is also an illegal spaza shop across the road, which results in motorists stopping in the middle of the road to buy from the shop.

Also read: Bramley SAPS expresses gratitude to security companies for crime-fighting support

The intersection of 9th and 4th Roads in Kew was also a topical issue due to the continuous hijacking incidents that occur there. Residents are calling for a stop sign or traffic circle to be installed there as a traffic control measure, rather than a traffic light, where motorists are forced to stop longer.

Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA)’s stakeholder representative, Nyeleti Mackay, urged residents to submit a petition for a traffic circle.

“To get a traffic circle as a traffic calming measure, processes and measures must be followed, which involve an engineer going onsite to inspect and may take months. Getting a stop sign is usually a quicker process, which can take weeks.”

Another area of concern for the community was an alleged hijacked house in Kew, which was not only an eyesore, but an alleged crime dungeon as well.

Chetty said he’d be following up on the matter closely to find out what was going on at the property.

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