District Six residents seek solutions to crime

• Published date: 25 April 2024
• Author: Wesley Ford wesley.ford@acm.co.za
• Publication title: Southern Suburbs Tatler

About 60 residents from the complex, which is part of restitution development, met with SAPS, a private security company and Ward 77 councillor Francine Higham at the Moravian Church on Saturday April 13 to air their concerns

District Six Phase Three steering committee member Jeff Alexander said the break-ins followed the removal of a temporary perimeter fence in September last year by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), which still owns the site.

DALRRD spokesperson Reginald Ngcobo told the Tatler that the fence had been installed during the construction of the complex to protect building materials and equipment.

“After the units were granted to claimants and they took occupation, it was agreed with the residents that the security guards and the fence would remain until the contract expired, which it did,” he said.

Mr Ngcobo said it was never expected that the state would provide security to the Hanover Street complex indefinitely.

Mr Alexander said the community had formed the District Six Phase Three Block Watch last September, but it was awaiting accreditation from the provincial Department of Community Safety.

A resident, who did not want to be named, said her tablet, her bag with her bank card, her grandchildren’s shoes and a tracksuit had been stolen during a break-in at her flat on Thursday March 28 at around 4am. She said she had called the police, but no one had...