Never-ending crime in the West Coast has taken its toll on residents and business owners alike.
For many Vredenburg has become a “gangster’s paradise”, as they would describe it. Many who live in the town feel the ongoing crime, aside from not making people feel safe, has placed Vredenurg in a bad light.
One resident, Zurica Davenhage, told Weslander she felt the crime rate had robbed the town of its former glory. “Nobody feels free to go into town,” she declared, “not even people tasked with the safety and security of others, because they do not feel safe or comfortable there, and especially at the banks. One can’t even drive with car windows open or make a call or a phone, or WhatsApp, knowing you are being watched and never knowing if one is going to be the next victim of theft or even death.
Davenhage said the reason for this is that criminal procedure is not implemented in the correct manner. She emphasised the fact that criminals have more rights than the victim. “They don’t care about being caught, knowing in a few hours they’ll be back on the street ready to strike again. Unfortunately we are not protected by our laws, and the authorities are being threatened and fear their own families will be placed in danger.”
Sammy Springleer, chairperson of the Vredenburg Security and Business Forum, agreed that businesses and residents were sick and tired now and needed answers. He did, however, acknowledge there were challenges faced by the law authorities.
What can be done?
Increase police presence; one immediate measure is to increase police patrols in the CBD. Patrols can act as a deterrent to potential criminals.
Community policing; encourage community policing efforts, where police officers work closely with residents and neighbourhood watches to understand their concerns and collaborate on finding solutions.
Crime-data analysis; use data analysis to identify crime trends and hotspots.
Improving lighting and surveillance; enhance street lighting in dimly lit areas and boost installation of surveillance cameras that actually provide real-time footage.
Residents have made a plea to the Saldanha Bay Municipality (SBM) and law authorities to step up and tackle crime head-on. André Truter, Mayor of Saldanha Bay, said it was true crime on the West Coast occurred more often and sometimes in broad daylight.
He cited the dire economic times the country currently faces as a huge contributory factor to the problem. Truter said it is not the mandate of the Saldanha Bay Municipality to reduce crime, but that it belonged to the South African Police Service. He said it is, however, the municipality’s responsibility to provide support to the police. Truter said he had made it his job to focus on safety through implementing smartpoles, a 24-hour control room and more.
“I as Mayor, the council and administration remain focused on helping to keep our towns clean and safe for our residents.”
Springleer said addressing criminality required long-term commitment and joint cooperation. “By working together to implement a holistic approach it is possible to reduce crime rates and restore safety and harmony to the town.”
