“We have a problem of shootings, car hijackings, smash and grabs and robberies,” that is how Ntlantla Kamnteni summed up the challenges facing his community.
He added that crime remained the single biggest challenge for everyone.
Kamnteni was commenting during an awareness drive organised by the neighbourhood watch members, the Community Policing Forum (CPF) and Nyanga police to fight ongoing crime in Browns Farm, Philippi.
Brandishing placards denouncing crime, members picketed at the corners of Link Road and Mnixi Drive on Friday 19 May to warn Uber drivers and other motorists about the dangers they face in the area.
“Don’t give lift to strangers”, “Uber request trap hotspot”, “Always close your windows when in the area”, read some of the posters.
Kamnteni, who is the CPF chair for Sector 3 (which includes Browns Farm), described the area as a danger zone. He added that continues to spiral out of control.
“We have a problem of shootings, car hijackings, smash and grabs and robberies. All these things are done by young people. We have been warning the Uber drivers not to come into Browns Farm or if they decide to come first go to the police station and ask to be escorted,” explained Kamnteni.
According to him, the young boys work with girls. “They ask girls to request an Uber and when it arrives, they rob it. I’m talking about young boys from the ages of 13 to 17 years old. They are well known in the community, but they don’t want to stop what they are doing. They make robbing people or smash and grab something fashionable. Some of them are robbing people wearing school uniforms,” he stated, adding they recruit new members daily.
Const Nandisa Mpengesi, from the Nyanga Police Station Social Crime Prevention Unit, echoed Kamnteni’s sentiments that crime in the neighbourhood was out of hand. She said there’s no specific hotspot, all the streets are dangerous.
However, she stated that they felt the need to stand up and caution the community and visitors to the area about crime.
“The community was so supportive during the picketing. Some community members joined us in the picket. They are saying enough is enough. We can’t allow people to live in fear in their area,” said Mpengesi.
She urged the community to report anything they see as suspicious to the police.