Businesses in the Vredenburg area are suffering from criminality.
Owners of businesses in Vredenburg are concerned about the impact of crime on business.
According to Sammy Springleer, deputy chairperson of the Vredenburg Security Business Forum (VSBF), aspects contributing to the increase in crime is homelessness, unemployment, load shedding and drugs, to name a few. Springleer said this has an effect on profit margins, as businesses need to spend extra funds on securing their premises.
“Business owners may feel they no longer want to trade and they are running their businesses at a loss, due to spending too much on safety,” he said.
Harry Lu, chairperson of VSBF, added that business owners had lost faith in growing their businesses in the West Coast due to crime. “This will result into a local economic loss and make the unemployment rate higher in Vredenburg,” he said.
“Crime also drives customers away as they do not feel comfortable shopping with the dodgy elements around.”
Frans van Wyk, owner of Frankia Fietse en Kabels in Vredenburg, said his business has been affected by crime on numerous occasions and that crime is out of hand. His concern as a business owner is that crime is of such nature that one can’t sleep at night and always worry whether the business is “alright”.
Van Wyk added that he hopes leaders of the town make the necessary decisions to put an end to criminal activity in town. He is also grateful for the Ou-Dorp Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) and the other NHWs that are so active in ensuring the safety of business premises as well as homes.
To address these issues, to ensure a safer CBD, a meeting was held in September with the Saldanha Bay Municipality, police and all relevant parties.
Springleer said there has been some improvement, but would ultimately like to see a crime-free CBD.
