Grahamstown business owners are counting the cost of a recent surge in graffiti spraying, and police have described the spike in vandalism as "disturbing".
Grahamstown business owners are counting the cost of a recent surge in graffiti spraying, and police have described the spike in vandalism as "disturbing".
Videotronics Radio and TV Services owner, Glenn Arthur, whose High Street premises were vandalised, was furious, saying the vandals were either ignorant of the consequences, or did not care. "Business is bad at the moment, therefore we cannot afford to have unnecessary expenditure. The kids don't realise the consequences of what they're doing. When they spray graffiti on a wall, we can't clean just that little patch. We literally have to repaint the entire wall. That means we have to spend more money. These kids have no consideration at all," Arthur said.
Also targeted were the premises of local advocate, Izak Smuts, in High Street, where vandals have sprayed images of gremlin-like figures. Similar figures can also be spotted outside a couple of neighbouring businesses. "Judging by what I saw on my property and other business properties that have been spray-painted, I have a strong belief that a stencil was used, as all these properties have more or less the same design," said Smuts.
He, like SAPS spokesperson, Captain Mali Govender, believes the same person, or group, is responsible for all the acts of vandalism. Govender said, "Several cases of malicious damage to property have been reported recently. It is quite disturbing because we have never had such persistent cases before," she said.
Govender said that no suspects had been arrested yet. She urged the public to report the culprits, or any suspicious activity. "We are appealing to the community, that if anyone has information regarding such criminal activities, to please report it to the nearest SAPS branch," said Govender.
