The neighbourhood watch in Tafelsig acted swiftly on reports of youngsters stoning buses in the area.

Vernon Fortune, the Hyde Park neighbourhood watch deputy chair, said they were “activated” when they were informed by police that buses were being stoned.

“We’ve been speaking to the police,” Fortune said, calling the incidents a “sad affair”.

18 stoning incidents

Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) spokesperson, Bronwen Dyke-Beyer, confirmed that there had been 18 stoning incidents in Tafelsig this week, on 20 and 21 July.

“The motive for the stonings is unknown, but witnesses identified the perpetrators as youths,” she said.

She said GABS worked closely with police, law enforcement and the ward councillor to ensure that the stonings stopped.

“Golden Arrow will not allow criminals to inconvenience our passengers, and all incidents have been reported to the police,” she said, adding that there were no repeat incidents.

Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said that six malicious damage to property cases were opened and that no arrests had been made.

Intervention

Fortune said the neighbourhood watch implemented interventions on the ground.

“We made the community aware that we need to intervene,” he said. “We also put a request to the Pastors’ Forum in the area of the stonings to engage and come out in the communities so that we can stop what is happening there.”

The watch members started patrolling on the bus route, Fortune said.

“Specifically at the hotspots,” he said.

They have continued their patrols since the incident was reported, he said.

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