Pumula pulls together
Pumula residents are not only combating crime but also uplifting their village.
PUMULA is another tight-knit and no-go suburb for criminals – thanks to a handful of dedicated and kind-hearted community members.
The Pumula Community Watch, which started about three years ago, is spearheaded by Kerry Massey and her committed team, which works together not only to prevent crime but also to improve the image of the village.
Mrs Massey said the community keeps in touch through a Whatsapp Crime Watch group, which nowadays consists of about 200 members. If residents are not on Whatsapp then they are kept informed via email.
The Whatsapp network allows for those who spot something suspicious or are in trouble to notify the community, who will then respond to help.
“This kind of networking has certainly helped to drop crime in the area,” said Mrs Massey.
About a month ago, a thief broke into a home and fled with various electronic items. Within 35 minutes, police and a security company managed to track down the robber, arrest him and recover the stolen items.
It’s success stories like these that keep a community tightly knit and alert – there are watchful eyes everywhere in Pumula.
Mrs Massey explained that the group, which runs purely on donations, also has an emergency response team of 11 people including paramedics, trauma nurses and policemen. There are also 24-hour Crime Watch patrols.
“We have formulated a structure that has strengthened the community to support its members, if a need arises,” she said.
Mrs Massey said the group has also documented all the senior citizens to ensure they are cared for and are regularly checked on.
“It’s important to know residents on a name-to-name basis and to know where they live,” she said.
Mrs Massey said its motto is that ‘no call is ever a wasted call’.
Most recently, it has worked closely with the Hibiscus Coast Municipality to do some maintenance and upliftment of the suburb and a renewal project team was formed comprising unemployed people.
For the last month the team has worked hard to straighten and fix road signs, paint tatty kerb stones, clear stormwater drains and repair potholes and drains.
Visitors are now welcomed into Pumula by the bright yellow and white kerb stones and then the striking ‘buccaneers’ black and white kerb stones, which have got everyone talking – even in council.
The next project on the cards is Pumula’s beachfront ablution facilities which are desperately in need of some maintenance and a coat of paint. There are also plans to do a ‘pretty welcoming feature’ at the entrance to Pumula.
Every resident is encouraged to join the group and can do so by contacting Mrs Massey at 083 9467042 or email: southportgarden@hotmail.com.
