Crime, water quality and resource shortages dominate Ward 16 War Room meeting in Sea Park
The next meeting is on March 19.
Rising housebreakings, ongoing water quality concerns and severe resource shortages across law enforcement structures took centre stage at the Ward 16 War Room meeting held at the Alfred Evans Hall in Sea Park last month.
The meeting, held under the banner of Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS), was chaired for the first time by Joan Gallagher.
OSS, which operates in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, translates to Stand up and Build and focuses on supporting vulnerable groups, including women, children, the elderly, the disabled, unemployed and chronically ill.
Captain Sunil Singh, station commander of Southport Saps raised concerns about an increase in housebreakings in Sea Park, particularly in St John’s Avenue. He pointed to an overgrown piece of land that is allegedly being used as an access route by criminals and requested assistance from Ray Nkonyeni Municipality enforcement to have it cleared.
Singh also warned residents to be vigilant online, especially when making or accepting accommodation bookings, noting a rise in scams.
In addition, he appealed for tolerance and respect in domestic relationships, revealing that there has been a noticeable increase in applications for protection orders.
Singh said Saps is operating under severe constraints, with only one vehicle available to cover a large policing area. He explained that resources are allocated according to rank structures and that as a captain-led station, allocations are limited. He described law enforcement officers and private security companies as key “force multipliers” in crime prevention efforts.
Law Enforcement’s assistant superintendent Mbongi Musa reported that 124 citations were issued in the previous month, with around half relating to drinking in public – particularly in the 3rd Avenue area. He urged community members to address the issue directly with friends, staff or employees who may be involved, and to report transgressions.
Other offences included public drinking, vehicle washing, prostitution and more than 100 parking violations between Hibberdene and Tweni, mainly involving vehicles causing obstructions.
Nine roadblocks were conducted, resulting in 102 notices issued for offences such as outdated number plates and unroadworthy vehicles. Crime prevention operations were led by Saps.
Musa acknowledged that weekend operations are hampered by a reduced staff complement and said additional resources are urgently needed. He added that he was not aware of any private homes selling alcohol illegally.
Ward councillor John Williams confirmed that law enforcement in the area is currently 35 officers short.
Serious concerns were again raised about the quality of water supplied by Ugu District Municipality, with residents reporting that many people are falling ill. Retired natural scientist Paddy Norman advised residents to boil water before drinking as a minimum precaution.
Other issues discussed were the Mzimkhulu River bridge and R102, recycling, the pollution of the uMhlangankhulu River and many others affecting the community.
Upcoming meeting dates for the remainder of the year are March 19, April 16, May 21, June 18, July 23, August 20, September 17, October 22 and November 19.
All community members are invited.
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