Bo-Kaap safety under the spotlight

• Published date: 18 April 2024
• Author: Shahied Joseph shahied.joseph@acm.co.za
• Publication title: Atlantic Sun

Since that incident, there have been no private security officers patrolling the streets, and Bo-Kaap resident Megan Kassiem, who also set up the private security project, says she has noticed unknown faces in the tourist district

“Crime has definitely increased since there no longer is private security. We had house break-ins, cars being stolen and lots of petty crimes in the area.

“I have been feeling very helpless as lots of the residents have still been reaching out when incidents have been happening, I always advise them to call SAPS,” said Ms Kassiem.

However, Osman Shaboodien, chairman of the Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers’ Association, claims that crime has decreased in the absence of private security patrols.

“Since the absence of private security patrols in Bo-Kaap serious crimes have subsided due to police and law enforcement intervention.

“Nevertheless, crime opportunism exists which feeds off goods left in parked vehicles, unguided tourists, influx of free parkers and drug buyers of the party goers in the CBD and house break-ins.

“We call on the police and law enforcement to continue their vigilance and arrest those committing the crimes. We call on the community to be extra vigilant and to support local initiatives by the Bo-Kaap Neighbourhood Watch (BKNW) and others to keep Bo-Kaap safe,” Mr Shaboodien said.

BKNW has 12 patrollers including one woman, and according to the BKNW chairman Ebrahim Christians, residents are reluctant to join their late night duty.

“We do have the odd person joining us for patrol, should we have more volunteers then we can spread the hours among the patrollers to prevent burn-out of the patrollers. We patrol during the week but not as long as we patrol over weekends – weekends we patrol from 10pm until about 3.30am and we do sign in with SAPS,” said Mr Christians.

He adds that tourists are frequently robbed or pick-pocketed in Rose and Chiappini streets.

“The problems in the area are cellphone and electronic equipment like camera theft, bag-snatching which is mostly from...