Robertsham has become dangerous

Robertsham used to be a beautiful, quiet and peaceful area, but crime escalating is really bad.

On Thursday July 24, my brother aged 15 was on his way from school. He was wearing a pair of tommees which were just R150. He was wearing them until payday to get him school shoes anyway. When he was walking from school about a block from home in Robertsham, two guys held a broken glass bottle to his throat and robbed him of his shoes! They took his shoes from his feet and searched his bag, pockets etc. What also bugs me is that nobody stops to help, they just watch.

This is not the first time this has happened; he was robbed last year in Robertsham. These criminals are cowardly as they seem to be targeting the elderly and school kids. An old woman was walking in Robertsham and was robbed by two guys for her packet of groceries. Yes, a packet of groceries!

Two years ago I was attacked in my own home with my six-year-old daughter. The attacker was on the property when I got home and as I was opening my front door he pushed me and my daughter in, flicked out a knife and threatened us, I fought back and luckily he fled. This was in broad daylight.

When I phoned the police, they didn’t even bother to get out of their bakkie or take his finger prints! They said no crime had taken place, therefore no fingerprints needed to be taken. In other words, if I was raped or murdered then fingerprints would do. Obviously he wasn’t locking me and my daughter in my flat for a chat and coffee!

A man was shot dead last year in Robertsham in front of his family and friends for a few hundred rands.

Is there not anything we can do to make Robertsham safer again, like the way it used to be? Maybe patrols, not just in the night but in the day too. The residents of Robertsham need to be warned! Especially the elderly and the school kids.

Jade