Call to tackle rampant crime in Brown’s Farm
The government must take more urgent steps to combat high crime in Brown's Farm, say community crime fighters in Philippi.
Members of the area's neighbourhood watches and community police forums, who were among those who filled the Ruth First Hall on Monday afternoon, told government officials that crime was out of control in the area.
Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais, Deputy Higher Education Minister Dr Mimmy Gondwe and mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith were at the meeting along with the City's portfolio committee chairperson for human settlements, Anda Ntsodo, ward councillors and law enforcement officials.
The Philippi CPF's Sector 3 sub-forum chairperson Ntlantla Kamteni said Brown's Farm had a very high crime rate, but the neighbourhood watches there were still waiting for equipment that had been promised to them.
“This is a high crime area and it is well documented and known. We cannot even hold meetings because of crime. The neighbourhood watch was promised equipment, but zilch. We do not see traffic officers and law enforcement here at all,” he said.
Nyanga CPF secretary Dumisani Qwebe said the police were not visible enough in the more crime-ridden parts of the community, and he said SAPS, the Law Enforcement Advancement Programme (Leap), neighbourhood watches and the CPF would need to work together to reduce crime.
Residents at the meeting said CCTV cameras, the building of a properly equipped police station, street lights and the payment of stipends to watch volunteers could all help to bring down crime.
Ms Marais acknowledged the residents' concerns but said it would take national government's involvement to address some of them.
She admitted there were too few police officers deployed to the area, but the province was trying to remedy that.
“We know the crime is terrible here. This is one of the critical areas. But we have sent all our Leap services here. There are things I cannot promise like the police station. I cannot promise something I cannot fulfil,” she said.
Mr Smith said had approached Police Minister Senzo Mchunu in an effort to address some of residents’ concerns.
"He is willing to talk to us, unlike the previous minister. The fully fledged police station is a national government’s duty. We cannot do their duties. Another thing that you must know is that our budgets were cut by billions by the national government,” he said.
