‘Let’s have neighbourhood watch back under level 3’

WITH the lockdown relaxed to level 3, a Phoenix mother whose son was stabbed multiple times during a robbery believes neighbourhood watches should resume.

Gresham Nadasan, 16, a Grade 10 pupil at Greenbury Secondary School, left his home in Rockford on Friday evening to go to a nearby tuckshop when he was accosted by four robbers.

His mother, Ashana Nadasan, said her son told her one of the suspects got out of a white Ford sedan to ask him for directions.

“The suspect had a mask and wore a hat. His three accomplices were seated in the vehicle. The suspect pretended he was drunk and he suddenly reached for a knife in his pocket.”

Nadasan said as he did this, his accomplices got out of the car and surrounded her son.

“The suspect with the knife pushed my son and he stumbled against the other suspects. They held on to him, checked his pockets and took his cellphone.”

She said the one with the knife was aggressive and stabbed Gresham in the chest, back and arm before fleeing in their car.

“Gresham, who lives with his grandmother, managed to get home. He was in shock and did not realise he was stabbed.

“My mother noticed the bloodstains on his clothing and called me. We took him to the Mount Edgecombe Life Hospital where he received treatment. He has since been discharged.”

Nadasan claimed the Ford sedan was spotted in the area a few times before the stabbing.

“We suspect they were scouting the area. There is a notice at the local garage warning people to be on the lookout for a similar vehicle. It is believed they are robbing people who use the ATM at the garage.”

She said she was thankful her son survived the attack.

“My two other children, Kydence and Ranar, are now afraid to go outside. Gresham is shaken. All his school work, including his assignments, were on the

Many people have lost jobs and they will now

be desperate phone. But for now, we are focusing on his recovery.”

She said the incident happened minutes before the 8pm curfew during level 4 of the lockdown.

“There should have been police patrolling to ensure people were clearing the streets. Now, as we move to level 3 of the lockdown, the CPFs (community police forums) should be allowed to patrol as they used to. We need the CPFs now more than ever because crime will spike. Many people lost their jobs during the lockdown and they will be more desperate.”

Nadasan said the Phoenix police station was closed due to a Covid-19 case.

“The officers came out to the scene and we plan on going to the station to open a case.”

Umesh Singh, the chairperson of the Phoenix CPF, said as per the Covid19 regulations neighbourhood watches were still not allowed to operate.

“It may only be allowed in the Western Cape.

“If the regulation is lifted in KZN, we will need to ensure the neighbourhood watches comply with rules such as social distancing. Now that it is winter and it is getting darker earlier, we advise residents to be vigilant.”

Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, national police spokesperson, said a decision to allow neighbourhood watches to operate was still in discussion with a view of finalising a directive on the matter.

Captain Nqobile Gwala, a provincial police spokesperson, said no case had been reported.

She urged the family to report the matter.

Ashana Nadasan MOTHER