District Six residents seek solutions to crime
The Hanover Street complex in District Six has been plagued by a series of break-ins in the past three months, say residents.
About 60 residents from the complex, which is part of restitution development, met with SAPS, a private security company and Ward 77 councillor Francine Higham at the Moravian Church on Saturday April 13 to air their concerns.
District Six Phase Three steering committee member Jeff Alexander said the break-ins followed the removal of a temporary perimeter fence in September last year by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), which still owns the site.
DALRRD spokesperson Reginald Ngcobo told the Tatler that the fence had been installed during the construction of the complex to protect building materials and equipment.
“After the units were granted to claimants and they took occupation, it was agreed with the residents that the security guards and the fence would remain until the contract expired, which it did,” he said.
Mr Ngcobo said it was never expected that the state would provide security to the Hanover Street complex indefinitely.
Mr Alexander said the community had formed the District Six Phase Three Block Watch last September, but it was awaiting accreditation from the provincial Department of Community Safety.
A resident, who did not want to be named, said her tablet, her bag with her bank card, her grandchildren’s shoes and a tracksuit had been stolen during a break-in at her flat on Thursday March 28 at around 4am. She said she had called the police, but no one had come out to investigate.
Another resident said two men had broken into her flat, during load shedding, at about 3.30am on Saturday March 23, and had taken her cellphone.
Mr Alexander said the police had been sluggish in responding to the crimes.
In a statement, Cape Town Central Police police spokesperson Captain Ezra October said: “The complaint regarding the housebreaking and theft will be attended to by the police, and feedback will be directed and communicated to the complainants and a criminal case register number will be provided to them.”
He said the police could plan and run regular joint crime-prevention operations with community structures.
Mr Alexander thanked a security company that he said had agreed to install four CCTV cameras at the complex for free. The company would monitor the cameras from its control room and provide armed response, he said.
Councillor Higham said: “It was important to understand what safety resources are available in the area and how the residents can access these resources when they need help.”
Residents could also call the City’s Law Enforcement emergency number at 021 480 7700 if they needed any assistance, she said.
