City threatens to demolish crime-prevention wall built by residents
ELSIES River residents are at loggerheads with the City of Cape Town over a “crime-prevention wall” residents built over the weekend to keep criminal elements out of their hood.
The community claims they resorted to building the wall after numerous attempts to get the City to intervene failed, and crime kept escalating.
About 100 Salberau residents joined hands and contributed toward buying the material and erecting the 2.3m high by nearly 20m long wall on Friday and Saturday, which the City of Cape Town on Sunday insisted be demolished.
The controversial piece of land is at Southern Cross Street and connects to Balvenie Avenue, linking the area to the Epping Forest. It is allegedly among one of the neglected City-owned pieces of land in Elsies River.
“We have tried over the years to engage with the City and over the past four years the situation has worsened,” said Pastor Paul Francis, chairperson of the Salberau Neighbourhood Watch.
“Law enforcement never responded to our complaints, and our attempts to do this the right way also failed, so the community got fed up and took action instead of constantly complaining. Then there the law enforcement was, to threaten the residents.
“So who are they protecting now, us as the ratepayers, or the criminals who must still be granted free access to our community?
“We had decided to not be violent or anything, but I don’t know what will happen if they demolish the wall.
“Despite our past experience, we still heeded their call to apply to build the wall and our representative is busy putting it together. So we don’t see why they would demolish it, knowing it’s what’s needed,” Francis said.
Maggie Lawrence, a resident, said the piece of land was used as an escape or hiding spot by criminals tormenting both communities, and the wall would minimise access to, and improve the safety, of the residents and motorists.
Lawrence said robberies, cable theft and house break-ins were common in the area; and there were murders and shootings where suspects allegedly escaped across the field.
Wayne Dyason, spokesperson for City Law Enforcement, said they received a complaint of an illegal wall being erected. “Local residents had banded together to build a wall on public open space in response to an increase in crime in the area.
“They were informed it was illegal to do so without permission from the City. The City’s Anti-Land Invasion Unit arrived and indicated that the partially built wall would be removed.”
The City did not confirm whether they had received complaints before.