Marburg women demand action on crime
Friesland Drive has been an area affected by crime for the past four years.
Roving criminals are selective about their victims and now seem to be focusing on women who are alone at home during the day.
There have been a number of attacks and robberies reported in Marburg Extension 14, and several women have contacted the Herald saying they have had enough of crime.
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They are calling on authorities to act and make their neighbourhood safer.
Since 2014 residents of Friesland Drive, Marburg have been living in fear.
A recent attack on Florrie Joseph (65) and her 20-year-old niece at their home was the last straw for Florrie and her neighbours.
The women were alone at home when an intruder kicked the kitchen door open and entered the house at about 11.30am.
“The man, armed with a knife, demanded cellphones from us. He shouted, ‘I am going to kill you. Give me your money and cellphones.’
“When my niece said she did not have a cellphone, he took a wallet containing cash, and fled. This is the second time in four years that I’ve been robbed. Next time I might not be so lucky,” said Ms Joseph.
Police have opened a house robbery case.
Friesland Drive has been hard hit by crime over the past four years, and the residents feel their pleas for help are being ignored.
In 2014 a grade 12 pupil from Marburg Secondary was stabbed to death near a short-cut in Friesland Drive, just metres from Mrs Joseph’s home.
“Criminal activity has once again been on the rise and this crime hot-spot has not been getting much attention from the police. Every day we see men loitering. They know that at most homes there are only women and we are easy targets.
“We need more visible policing and we need the municipality to act on overgrown properties,” said another resident, Rani Pillay.
Ward 17 councillor, Ajith Rajaram, said he would address the crime problem and the overgrown properties in council.
The women said they would be forming a community policing forum (CPF) and were willing to work with the police and security companies.
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