Bruce Gold is a beloved staple of Jeffreys Bay culture, the last of a dying breed of hippy spreading positivity and good vibes wherever he finds himself. Despite all this, he had a very unpleasant experience last week when he was robbed at the beach.
While enjoying his morning stroll on the beaches of Jeffreys Bay on October 10 at 06:30, Gold was approached by four well-dressed male youths. The eldest of the youths proceeded to expose his pistol and subsequently hold Gold at gunpoint, robbing him of his cellphone.
They also searched and patted him down for cash and other possessions. Fortunately, Gold was not harmed during the incident.
After not being able to acquire anything else from him, the four left and allegedly robbed another individual before dispersing.
A couple who saw what happened to Gold, approached him to inquire about his well-being and revealed that the suspects had just approached them, but the couple managed to run away in time after seeing that one was carrying a firearm.
“The main beach seems to have become a hot spot of crime in the early and late hours. I am also unable to take my kids surfing there any more due to the broken glass all over the beaches. We have experienced broken glass from in front of the Surf Village all the way to in front of Spur,” said Gold’s cousin, Garth Robinson.
Robinson relayed further that the state of the main beach is a deep issue, speaking of the fact that residents are being put off utilising the area by the self-appointed car guards and beggars, along with the broken glass and regular sewage leaks onto the beach, all of which could affect tourism.
“While I appreciate the immense efforts and strides they have made in improving the lives of all in the Kouga, I feel that the municipality needs to urgently address these growing issues.
“I mean if it isn’t even safe for a 70-year-old penniless hippy to take a morning walk, then what has this place come to?” asked Robinson.
When asked for a comment regarding this dire situation, Kouga Executive Mayor, Horatio Hendricks said,
“Although crime prevention is the responsibility of the SAPS, in a bid to keep Kouga safe, the municipality has installed several cameras across the region. These closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and automatic number plate recognition surveillance cameras are monitored 24/7 by a trained team at the municipality’s Integrated Intelligence Operation Centre in Humansdorp.”
Hendricks further said, “The municipality, furthermore, works in close collaboration with all relevant role-players, including the South African Police Service, civic rights organisations, municipal departments, law enforcement, private security companies, and emergency agencies. More cameras will be installed soon, while additional high mast lights will be erected in crime hot spot areas.
“We need to make our voices heard. We plead with the community to take hands with the municipality in the fight against crime.”
