EXT 6 Flats residents in Eldos unite to transform crime hotspots into safe havens

The residents of Mahogany Flat (MF) and surrounding areas at Ext 6, Eldorado Park, held a meeting to discuss crime hotspots on March 30.

Residents have identified the large open space behind the flats as a crime hotspot, which affects learners who use the footpath to go to school.

The community vowed to eradicate criminal activities by converting the vacant land for projects such as agriculture or any other suggested by locals.

The meeting was led by the Invincibles NPC Gauteng coordinator, Miles Bhudu, and Conveyor Pastor Errol Jacobs, Rito Maharaj, Vanessa Hoods and Charlene Britoe.

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According to the leadership, they have identified that the land belongs to the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements.

They intend to engage with politicians and officials to explore solutions and strategies for transforming a notorious hotspot into a thriving hub of productivity and usefulness.

This includes the Premier of Gauteng, Lesifi Panyaza, City of Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morana, Human Settlement MMC Mlungisi Mabaso and MEC Tasneem Motara, Region G director Micky Parayaschayi and the local councillor Dwine Ponsonby.

Bhudu said the next step is for community members to join the committee that was established.
“First, we need to clean up the area before it could be utilised for various projects such as planting trees and vegetables,” said Bhudu.

He said they are also considering a sports and recreation setup to ensure that the long-standing open space is no longer a crime hotspot that people and children are afraid to use.

Residents Charlee Meyers and Mirintia Stainbank, who have been living at Ext 6 for 35 years, said crime was fast becoming a threat for not only children from Eldos but for children from neighbouring communities such as Kliptown and Pimville.

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They said the open field exposes children to robberies, bullying and sexual abuse.

“The last incident was a Grade Eight student who was sexually and physically assaulted on her way to school,” said Stainbank.

“Due to her quick thinking, she gave them the wrong address where she stays, but that child came to the school terrified.”

The pair said that in the past two years, the community took the initiative to clean the area without any support from stakeholders because the land belonged to the province.

Another resident, Thelma Penny Barrett, said children have to take the main road to avoid the area, however, it is also not safe.

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She said the open space serves as a hiding place for criminals. Bhudu insists that if something is not done soon, then tragedy will strike.

An Ext 6 First Crisis Committee has been elected, consisting of two dedicated members from each flat to handle important issues.

The committee will closely work with the Invincibles project and NPOs that are dedicated to service delivery.

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They aim to establish a government-civil society partnership, creating an internal government stakeholders’ forum and an external civil society stakeholders’ forum.

With the partnership, there will be a technical forum to provide communication and problem-solving.

This program runs concurrently with the Presidential Working Team’s initiative, initiated by the president in Johannesburg, to clean up neighbourhoods, houses, and cities ahead of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg.