All it took for cops to declare the northern Durban suburbs under siege by criminals was a call from Bheki Cele.
|||Durban - All it took for police to declare the affluent northern Durban suburbs under siege by criminals was a call from former police commissioner Bheki Cele.
Police, who initially denied an increase in the number of break-ins in Durban North and Umhlanga, backtracked on that statement after an attempted burglary at Cele’s Umhlanga home last week.
They have since deployed more officers and patrol vehicles to deal with the “surge in crime” and a personal assurance has come from Lieutenant-General Mmamonnye Ngobeni, provincial police commissioner, to “deal decisively with crime”.
The Sunday Tribune reported last week that when criminals couldn’t gain entry into Cele’s house through a bathroom window, they broke into the garage and stole three bottles of expensive whisky and other goods from the cars.
Cele said his was one of four homes broken into that night, adding that “criminals were having a field day in the community, which was under siege”.
He was surprised to learn of the police stance to what he considers a mounting problem.
“I don’t want to fight with the police on this issue, but the community of Umhlanga does not agree with their statement that it is not a problem.
“I met General Bala (Naidoo), who said we have a problem. He told me this when I spoke to him, so those statements surprise me,” he said.
Cele said he would do everything in his power to make his neighbourhood safe, not only for his family, but for the community.
Soon after speaking to Cele, the Sunday Tribune received a call from police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Vincent Mdunge, who did an about-turn on earlier sentiments, saying the police were apologetic for the miscommunication about the former police commissioner’s stance on crime in the area.
“The former national police commissioner is unhappy with comments made. We would like to remedy this. We would like to announce our unconditional apology. We understand that his family has been traumatised and that his concerns are legitimate.
“We will deal decisively with crime in that area. The provincial police commissioner has given her personal reassurance. We want that community to be able to live in peace,” said Mdunge.
He said that after a briefing by Naidoo to the provincial police commissioner, resources would be added to deal with the “increase in housebreaking and property-related crimes in the area”.
“There will be more visible policing with extra cars, resulting in more patrols. These measures have already happened.
“More has been budgeted to pay officers to work overtime if necessary to stabilise the area. The satellite police station in Umhlanga will operate 24 hours and in the ‘awkward hours’ the station will close and police will patrol the streets. Reservists will be drawn in, to boost capacity.”
Told about this, Cele said, “At least they are acknowledging (crime) and addressing it”.
He said a community meeting would be held on Wednesday to address the problem and he was sure it would be well-attended.
Haden Searles, chairman of the Durban North-Umhlanga Community Police Forum, said,
“More officers? Sounds like political pandering to me. Our crime statistics have not increased dramatically. There have been times when our community has been under siege, but we haven’t seen that return.”
Craig Adendorff of Suncell Community Watch, an electronic crime awareness network, agreed the community was not under attack.
While there had been an increase in attempted housebreaking and home invasions, he said crime came in waves.
“Our area is targeted, then they back off. But the extra officers will make a difference, as in the Highway area. Criminals will move away from here because it will be a hot spot.”
Searles said,
“We live in an affluent area and will always be targeted. Criminals have even said they would keep coming back because we have laptops, plasma TVs, iPods and firearms that are easy to steal and sell.”
charmel.bowman@inl.co.za
Sunday Tribune