Police: “Treat their homes as yours”
Makhura reminded the domestics to treat the homes they work at as their own.
House robberies caused by the negligence of domestic workers and homeowners were addressed by Honeydew Police Social Crime Prevention Unit during a domestic watch meeting on 14 August.
The meeting was hosted by the Riverwel Residents’ Association and was held outdoors, close to the Cockspur Road bridge in Weltevreden Park.
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The organiser, Neville Burnett, a member of the RA, invited police, Johannesburg Emergency Services and local security Community Support Services to caution the domestics and their bosses about crime trends and how they become victims of crime.
Honeydew Police’s Sergeants Nicholas Makhura and Mamasedi May shared their safety knowledge with domestics by giving them some preventative tips. “The outside meetings between domestic workers have to come to an end because that’s how you get targeted,” Makhura warned the workers.
“Make sure the burglar gate is locked at all times. Ensure that you answer the intercom because when you don’t they [criminals] will think there’s nobody at home,” he told the domestics.
Makhura also reminded the domestics to treat the homes they work in as their own. “At your home, you don’t open for anyone without knowing who they are; so why do it at your workplace?” he asked. “If the owner of the house didn’t leave a message, do not open for them, rather phone your boss and ask,” he emphasised.
May also encouraged the domestic workers and gardeners to report criminal cases such as rape and witnessing crime.
Gavin Wilson, the public information officer for Region C, educated the domestics about City by-laws and home safety. “The City has by-laws, and one of the most important by-laws states that you are not allowed to burn garden rubbish on your property because it might lead to a fire, especially if you have a hedge,” he cautioned, adding that property owners can be fined for breaking this by-law.
He also reminded the domestics to avoid overloading electrical points and when cooking to ensure that the handle of the pot is inwards or against the wall, in case the little ones try to pull it off the stove.
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