- Residents of Phase 7 in Extension 6, Mfuleni, have barricaded streets, including Inciba and Igqili, to curb escalating home robberies.
- Councillor Nkosiphendule Lombi acknowledges the closures as a response to worsening crime but plans to mediate a resolution with community stakeholders and law enforcement.
- Police Station Commander Brig Thamsanqa Tito opposes the closures, citing potential delays for emergency services.
The escalation of crime at Phase 7 in Extension 6, Mfuleni has forced the community to barricade some of the streets with rubble to minimise the entry points to the area.
According to residents, there is a new trend of unknown people driving around and robbing houses.
Resident Sizwe Biyana (52) said crime is getting out of hand in the area. He said several houses were robbed in broad daylight. He said streets that are currently closed are Inciba and Igqili streets.
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“There’s an unknown car that is going around the area targeting certain houses, especially when the house owners are at work and there are only children in the house.
“They are robbing them at gunpoint and taking their televisions, refrigerators, microwaves and so on. The officers are aware of that but the criminals are continuing,” he explained.
Biyana said the street has been cordoned off for more than three months.
Ward 108 councillor Nkosiphendule Lombi said he is aware of the road closure in Extension 6 citing that crime is getting out of hand in the neighbourhood.
He described crime as the major challenge in Mfuleni as a whole.
Lombi said the community had no other option but to close the streets.
“This thing of barricading the streets started at Smarties in ward 106,” he said.
He said the reason for barricading the streets was to minimise the movement in the area.
He said the community wants to have one entry and exit point in the area. He vowed to organise a meeting with the community stakeholders, including the officers to resolve the problem.
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Mfuleni Police Station commander Brig Thamsanqa Tito said they are aware of the closure of certain streets in the area. He said according to the community they barricaded the roads to manage the cars moving in and going out of Mfuleni due to crime.
“I can state that categorically we are against the closure of the streets because on the other side it has a negative impact when it comes to the firefighters, ambulances and police vans when they are attending the incidents.
“We are trying to engage with the community appealing to them to reopen them. Even today (Tuesday 10 December) will have a meeting with them next to the Mfuleni Fire Station.”
