Infuriated by the lack of assistance from authorities, Georginia South residents organised an emergency crime meeting on Saturday (31 May).
Roodepoort Police and Dunmar Security attended the meeting where residents from all over Georginia and specifically from Mersey Street called for action.
This after recent criminal activity in the street, said Jill and Chris Stewart. They recently experienced what Jill refers to as “criminal episode number 45 since 1997”.
“We’ve been under attack, literally, for more than a decade,” Chris said before he read from the Constitution.
“Criminals seem to have more rights than the average citizen … we want to see more from the police, that’s the bottom line.”
Mersey Street residents gave their personal accounts of recent activity, emphasising their disappointment in the lack of cooperation they’ve experienced from the police.
“What happens if I’m murdered in my own house?” one woman asked.
Another said that police refused to open a case after his house was burgled on Election Day, of which the consequence was that he couldn’t file a claim with his insurance company. They also complained about the open field behind the crescent that has served as an easy access and escape route for criminals in the past. After hearing their complaints, Danny Pieterse and Gerrie van Rooyen from the Roodepoort Police responded by saying that the main problem is sector policing.
“It is clear to us that they are not responding or assisting you properly and that is simply unacceptable,” said Pieterse.
He was furious over reports that sector police phones rang unanswered. He promised residents a contact list of sector police and the shift commander as well as a schedule for Sector 3 police.
“Roodepoort is a very big area to police.
“Unfortunately, the police can’t do it alone,” he concluded.
Van Rooyen explained that the police is understaffed and that residents should do be watchdogs.
“The police can do so much more with their watchdogs.”
A resident volunteered to clear a path behind the houses on Mersey Street for patrolling.
Forming a Georginia South committee
By the end of the meeting it was decided that a Georginia South committee will be formed, said Jill Stewart. She hopes that Sheldon Abrahams (Mersey Street) and Darryl Daniels, Hendrik Coetzee and Chris Vermaak (from surrounding streets and complexes) will join her in the venture.
“Some of them still are considering the invitation but we are adamant about the committee being formed.”
Stewart said that the committee should meet at least once a month and that minutes of the meetings will be shared with the police. Continuous communication with the police is crucial, she said. ”
We’re waiting to see how Saturday’s discussion pans out in terms of promises made; we have had big talk before.
“We will send Danny Pieterse weekly information as well.”
Please note David Bantom and Llewelyn Josephs are both from Dunmar Security and not ADT. The Reaction Officers in Camo clothing are from Dunmar Security who have been very involved in this.