Widespread gang-related crime and persistent damage to critical infrastructure were among key concerns raised during a DA safety and security assessment conducted at the Chatty satellite police station on Friday.
DA leader John Steenhuisen visited the area after a number of gang-related killings in the past month.
Chatty Community Policing Forum member Dion Magwala said the situation in the area had become almost unbearable, with gangs leading the spate of crimes committed.
According to Magwala, the two main gangs — the Satans and True Kids — continued to cause problems for the police and the forum.
“Gang-related crimes are one of our biggest concerns where we see children as young as 12 becoming members.
“People in the area are too afraid to speak up about this problem because they fear for their lives,” Magwala said.
Steenhuisen was told that the Chatty police station had eight detectives assigned to it, resulting in crimes occurring in Bethelsdorp and its surrounding areas being handled primarily at Chatty.
This posed significant challenges for the police in effectively carrying out duties.
Acting district police commissioner Brigadier Ronald Koll said police had their hands full with limited resources available.
This, said Koll, included vehicle availability as some needed repairs.
Magwala said there was a need for more community outreach programmes to educate residents about what the police and the forum did.
Other issues raised included the presence of scrap yards in the area, which allegedly spurred on copper theft, mostly during night-time load-shedding.
DA councillor Retief Odendaal said police needed to do more blitz operations at scrap yards.
“We need better legislation to combat these issues,” Odendaal said.
Steenhuisen said there was a definite need for a better police service which should be localised to empower officers more.
“The move will make policing at a local level more effective in fighting crime.”
Shortly after the oversight inspection, DA provincial chair Yusuf Cassim launched the party’s opportunity centres campaign at the Ward 13 office in Gelvandale.
Cassim said gangs and crime could not only be dealt with through law enforcement but also through community upliftment, which included skills development.
The centres, which are based at all DA ward offices, will be open every Friday from 10am to 1pm starting next week.
Services on offer included assistance with information about available jobs, how to apply and other related services.
“These centres are a one-stop shop for anyone who needs assistance with a variety of issues,” Cassim said.
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