On Saturday, 17 October a group of Rhodes journalism students who had been investigating crime in Currie Park, Oatlands North and Somerset Heights as part of a civic journalism project, were ready to present their findings to the community.
On Saturday, 17 October a group of Rhodes journalism students who had been investigating crime in Currie Park, Oatlands North and Somerset Heights as part of a civic journalism project, were ready to present their findings to the community.
They distributed 400 fliers advertising the event and put up posters all over town. As 11am approached it became apparent that attendance would be disappointing.
Those present expressed their frustration at the evident apathy of their neighbours and criticised the isolated mentality of suburban living as a major obstacle to reducing crime.
While researching their articles, sound slides and documentaries the students had found that residents were highly preoccupied with the perceived failings of the police as well as fears for the safety of their families and property – yet few are willing to engage with these fears in a meaningful way.
This was reinforced by people’s hesitance to report crimes. Despite the poor turnout, Inspector Milanda Coetzer of the South African Police Service presented a thorough presentation accompanied by Sergeant Gay Mackenzie, the newly appointed head of Sector Three (Somerset Heights area).
They responded to residents’ complaints concerning a lack of visible policing in their area. To place crime in the Somerset Heights, Oatlands North and Currie Park areas in perspective week by week, Coetzer explained that statistics clearly revealed that while the CBD and Grahamstown East experience high instances of serious and violent crimes, these three neighbourhoods often went without a single reported incident. Of course this may demonstrate a lack of faith in the justice system rather than the reality of crime and some residents freely admitted that the only reason they felt compelled to report crime was because insurance required them to do so.
They described the process of reporting as an exasperating one in which they spent hours at the police station dealing with a “frustrating and ineffective system”.
Coetzer stressed that if residents don’t report crimes then the SAPS’ time and manpower will be allocated elsewhere as the crime prevention system focuses mostly on hotspots.
Coetzer’s statistics also revealed a worrying trend. As the more affluent suburbs increasingly rely on Hi-Tech to secure their homes, criminals are choosing to risk confronting surprised civilians rather than a team of armed response guards.
Homes are being targeted between 6 and 9pm at night when it is likely that the occupants are at home and alarms are deactivated, obviously at greater risk to their safety.
Coetzer also reminded residents that the biggest concern for the broader area of Grahamstown West is the theft of laptops, which amounted to over a million rand’s worth already been reported stolen this year.
In conclusion Coetzer stressed that she found students’ initiative very helpful as there are few forums in which the Grahamstown community can effectively air their concerns.
She asked those listening to remember that the policemen and women of Grahamstown are members of the community too and their concern for the safety and security of Grahamstown should not be doubted.
