Business owners in Wynberg have formed a new collective body to tackle safety, drug dealing and urban decay.
The Wynberg Business Forum (WBF) held its first Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Church on Main. There were 20 business owners in attendance. The meeting also had support from the Cape Town Chamber of Commerce and Ward 62 councillor Emile Langenhoven.
A committee takes the helm
Members elected Natasha Franschitti as chair of the newly formed WBF. Linda Harris serves as deputy chair. Thilda Jack was named secretary. Uzair Bemat is treasurer. In addition, Mary-Jean Thomas-Johnson is the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) compliance officer.
Franschitti said the forum’s formation marked a turning point for the area.
“The WBF aims to strengthen and revitalise the Wynberg business environment through collaboration, coordinated action and constructive engagement with both public and private stakeholders,” she said.
Safety tops the agenda
Franschitti said members ranked safety and law enforcement as their single biggest concern. Drug dealing and drug use on Wynberg Main Road and surrounding streets including Ebor and Egglestone roads, took place in full view of businesses during trading hours. She said members reported this at the AGM.
She said members also raised concerns about a justice system they felt was failing the community.
“There is a general concern that the justice system is unable to prosecute drug dealers who are regularly arrested and released the very next day without bail. This also contributes to a growing unhoused population in Wynberg,” Franschitti said.
Members raised concerns about illegally occupied buildings in the area, she said. Franschitti said these buildings had become sites for illegal activities and that the WBF intended to hold landlords accountable.
Top six priorities
Members ranked their top concerns in the following order
- Safety and law enforcement
- Urban management
- CBD upgrades
- Investment and development
- Mobility and traffic management, and property owner collaboration
- Getting the City to the table
Franschitti said the forum would work closely with the Wynberg Improvement District and the Community Policing Forum (CPF). They aim to identify areas needing improvement and support.
“Through collaborative efforts and a united front from businesses and landlords, we aim to drive a greater focus on safety and security, as well as improved urban management,” she said.
Future WBF meetings will include a panel of relevant stakeholders, including representatives from City of Cape Town departments, she said.
Franschitti said this would open direct channels of communication between business owners and responsible parties.
She said many businesses had struggled to get assistance from the City and other organisations.
“By coming together as not only a collective voice, but also working together to put pressure on problem areas and shine light on these issues, we hope to drive positive change and encourage all landlords and business owners to follow the City’s bylaws and ethical obligations,” Franschitti said.
Free to join — for now
The WBF currently operates on a voluntary basis and charges no membership fee, Franschitti said. She said the forum may review this as it grows.
The forum is also registering as a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO), which would make qualifying donations tax deductible.
Franschitti called on all business and property owners in Wynberg to get involved.
“We not only want to present a unified voice to relevant stakeholders to ensure accountability, but also work alongside the business community and government to help drive the change that is needed through fundraising, sponsorships, collaboration and joint initiatives,” she said.
- For membership information, email wynbergbusinessforum@gmail.com.
ALSO READ: Wynberg Storm Electricity Outages Hit Ward 62 Hard
