Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Sanddrift residents call for closure of ‘dangerous drug den’ alleyways
CRIES for a safer neighbourhood have fallen on deaf ears for over two years as residents of Sanddrift near Milnerton continue to be victims of crime in several alleyways in the area.
Residents said they had requested the City of Cape Town to assist them with gating seven dangerous alleyways in the area or at least leasing the spaces to home owners next to the alleys.
However, deputy mayor and mayoral committee member for finance Alderman Ian Neilson said: “A lease or sale agreement is the only mechanism whereby the city is able to regularise the closure of these lanes.”
Neilson said the residents would need to submit an application to lease the land or close off the alleys and such a process took time.
Block watch captain Wayne Reddek told Weekend Argusthey had already gated two alleys in a bid to keep the neighbourhood safer but they needed assistance from the city with the rest.
“About 12 or 13 years ago we realised the alleys were an easy gateway for criminals, so to limit traffic in the area we closed the two alleys,” he said.
Mayoral committee member for transport Brett Herron denied any knowledge of any requests by the residents to have the alleys closed.
“I do not have the details about when the community has requested their local sub council to close lanes and for which lanes specifically,” he said.
This is little comfort for resident Richard Hopely, who had been living in the area for just over a year. His home is next to one of the most problematic alleys in the neighbourhood. He said criminals often peep over his walls to assess whether it is safe for them to enter.
His home had become a gateway to his neighbours’ homes as criminals jumped over his wall to gain access to his neighbours’ yards.
“Just last week they jumped over my yard to gain entry to my neighbour’s house. They were asleep at the time but were woken by the noise and the guy was already almost half way into the house through the window,” he said.
Another resident told Weekend Argus his storeroom was broken into two weeks ago and his music cassettes were stolen.
He said the thieves must have gained access to his property through the alley.
“My home is next to the alley so they broke off two panels of the Vibracrete to gain access. This was the first incident of its kind in the area but I am not shaken by it,” said the resident.
Lianne Lippert from the ratepayers’ association said the alleys were used as open-air drug dens.
“They use the alleyways to do drugs, rob people at gunand knife-point and sometimes we find used condoms in the alley. We understand it is very convenient for people so we at least need it to be gated and have opening and closing times to limit the traffic,” she said.
asanda.sokanyile@inl.co.za