Residents are being urged to join local crime fighting units as the prevalence of violent crime continues to sweep across Durban.

The call to action comes in the wake of incidents where residents were killed in their homes in the early hours of the morning.

Residents are being urged to join local crime fighting units as the prevalence of violent crime continues to sweep across Durban. File

Aidan David, chairperson of the eThekwini district police board, emphasised the importance of enhancing volunteer numbers within community police forums (CPF).

"By increasing our numbers, we can outnumber the criminals on the streets," he said.

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, intruders forced their way into a home in Sarnia near Pinetown, killing Craig Deetlefs.

Last week, father of one, Justin Isaiah, 40, was shot in the chest and his father, John Isaiah, 60, sustained a gunshot wound to his abdomen when armed intruders broke into their Silverglen home in the early hours of the morning.

Deetlefs, 45, awoke to investigate a disturbance in the living area of his home at about 2am when he walked in on two intruders who gained access to the house through a dining room window.

Daryn Mahabeer, Deetlefs' brother-in-law, said Deetlefs shouted for his wife, Romika, to lock herself in the bedroom and call for help.

"As Romika tried to shut the door from the inside, the second intruder tried to overpower her. My sister then heard two gunshots and shortly thereafter she was overpowered by the intruder. He burst into the main bedroom and ransacked it, taking her cellphone, Craig’s phone, a laptop and keys to both the cars,” he said.

Both intruders escaped in Romika’s silver Toyota Corolla.

He said Deetlefs' two daughters, aged 11 and 14, heard the commotion and woke up, but stayed in their rooms.

Mahabeer said his sister had immediately called for an ambulance but the family waited over an hour for paramedics, adding that it was an unconscionable delay that no family should have to endure in their darkest moment.

“Craig fought with everything he had. He was resuscitated three times, but the fight had taken its toll. He passed away in his own home, on the bedroom floor where his family had once felt safe,” said Mahabeer.

He said Deetlefs died a hero, not for his possessions, but for his family.

"Craig will be remembered as the quiet guy in the background who never complained, but lent assistance to anyone to ask for help. He was a hero to his family and that is the way he remained until his very last breath," said Mahabeer.

Deetlefs' funeral took place on Saturday.

David urged every community member to become members of the CPF structure.

"By increasing our numbers we can override the number of criminals on the streets. We have to do our bit to save our country from the growing surge of crime. Criminals have realised that they have nothing to lose because our prisons and their facilities are like heaven for criminals.

"I have always told communities that a man that has nothing to lose should be the most feared man on the street. Together we can eradicate crime or bring crime to its bare minimum. I plead to every citizen, young and old, to report any suspicious persons or activities that they may come across to the CPF patrollers or their local security companies so that preventative measures and actions could be taken before the crime can occur," said David.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE