Beacon Valley was abuzz with activity on Wednesday evening when the mayor and alderman JP Smith brought a complement of leap officers. They accompanied two neighbourhood watch groups during a pamphleteering drive.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis met the Mayco member for safety and security on the corner of Jukskei and Hengelaar roads in Beacon Valley. This meeting on Wednesday August 13 was to raise awareness about the City’s informant reward system.
Led by Beacon Hill High School’s drilling group, they weaved in and out of the streets in the area. While doing so, they handed out “see something, say something” pamphlets.
That section of Beacon Valley is considered a hotspot for gang activity.
While the group was pamphleteering, a message on crime watch groups circulated. It stated there had been a shooting a few streets away, but Mitchell’s Plain station commander Brig Brian Muller said the report was false.
Rewards for tip-offs
The pamphlets said that the City offered rewards of up to R20 000 for useful tip-offs.
“The Informant Reward System was introduced to assist the City’s enforcement services to good effect. In recent years, more and more City departments have started feeling the brunt of theft. The vandalising of critical infrastructure has also increased, and departments have started using the reward system,” said Smith.
He also pledged his support for the #SilencingTheGun campaign, a community-driven safety initiative started by the Nyanga Community Police Forum (CPF).
“Since the beginning of the year our team has removed 215 firearms and over 5 000 rounds of ammunition off the streets. The number of firearms confiscated increases each year but there seems to be an endless supply. While we believe more needs to be done to investigate the suppliers of these firearms, residents can help by reporting the locations. I want to appeal to residents to make use of the anonymous tip-off line. Work alongside law enforcement agencies to make our communities safer,” Smith said.
Residents can report crime and by-law offences anonymously, 24 hours a day, on 0800 110077. For urgent emergency service requests call 021 480 7700 from a cell phone or 107 from a landline.
