Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Crime files: Philippi East’s body count
In part one of a four-part series chief reporter Norman Cloete explores the reasons why Philippi East is ideal ground for murderers to dispose of their victims
MICHAELA Williams. Meghan Cremer.
They are just two among the many women and children whose bodies have been dumped in Philippi East. In July last year, 13 people were murdered over one of the deadliest weekends in the area. This number included six women shot in the Marcus Garvey community.
Michaela Williams, 12, disappeared from her Crane Street residence in New Horizon, Grassy Park, and was found dumped in Philippi East. A suspect who lived two doors away was arrested the next day.
Meghan Cremer, 30, an avid horse rider was found with her hands tied and a restraint around her neck. Jeremy Sias, 27, Charles Daniels, 39, and Shiraaz Jaftha, 34, were arrested. They are believed to be members of the Six Bobs gang.
Over the next four weeks Weekend Argus investigates the causes of the high incidence of body dumping in Philippi East.
This week we probe one reason: the area provides the perfect cover for killers to leave bodies.
Crime statistics indicate there were 1 024 murder victims found in the area between 2010 and 2019, with many of the crimes committed elsewhere and the bodies dumped in Philippi East.
Criminologists believe lack of development is a major reason killers choose the area as a place to dispose of bodies.
Research shows there is 60% unemployment in the area, which is largely agricultural.
It is surrounded by factories which shut down at a certain time, providing the perfect deserted terrain for killers to go unnoticed while to dumping bodies.
Community apathy is another factor that allows crime and criminals to flourish. Often residents are direct beneficiaries of the proceeds of crime and offer protection to criminals living in their communities.
PHILIPPI East will remain the dumping ground of choice for Cape Town’s killers unless the area gets a serious facelift.
This is the opinion of criminologists who believe the lack of development and law enforcement make the area an ideal place for discarding the bodies of murdered women and children.
Since 2010, 1 024 murders were committed in the greater Philippi area and many of the bodies were disposed of in Philippi East, most recently, Michaela Williams, 12, and Meghan Cremer, 30.
National crime statistics put areas like Philippi East and Nyanga at the top of the murder rate list. According to 2017/2018 crime statistics, 205 murders were recorded in Philippi East, up by 55 from the previous year. The area also recorded 118 attempted murders.
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development said the process of appointing the Western Cape Children’s Commissioner had not been finalised. Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development John Jeffery said the Western Cape Department of the Premier would make the announcement when the process ended.
“The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development remains committed to promoting and protecting the rights of our most vulnerable, so that all people including our children must feel safe,” he said.
Patric Solomon, director of childrens’ rights organisation Molo Songololo, said interviews have been held to find a commissioner and it was hoped the announcement would be made by the end of next month.
Criminologists Matthew Skade and Anine Kriegler conducted research for the Centre for Criminology at UCT in 2017 into why Philippi gained notoriety as the dumping grounds of Cape Town. “It’s very clear and simple. Where there are no services, it’s easier to dump and hide bodies. This will not change. We need houses, proper streets and street lights. If there is movement, if there are people about, it will not be so easy for killers to dump their victims.”
Skade said it was not only the lack of development, but also the attitudes of people that added to the problem.
“We have a situation in Philippi East where even the police station has to hire security guards to protect the police officers and the station from vandals. Cops are scared. Every third person in Philippi East has a gun.”
The greater Philippi area is largely agricultural and surrounded by industrial areas which shut down after 5pm and this makes it easier for killers to move unnoticed.
“The other huge challenge for law enforcement and SAPS is the communities themselves. There is a deeply rooted culture of silence and of protecting criminals. The good people in these areas are also too scared to speak out. Organised crime runs deep in these communities. Criminals plead guilty, pay fines and commit the same crimes as soon as they are released.”
According to Skade’s research, areas like Philippi East have 60% unemployment, which adds to the high crime levels and communities often benefit from the proceeds of crime which was another challenge for authorities. But Skade said the problem was not unique to South Africa and Cape Town and that similar trends could be found in South America.
Skade said he had been encouraged by growth that had taken place in Philippi East, albeit on an informal scale. In the past two years, informal townships have mushroomed in
Philippi East, namely Browns Farm, Phola and Marikana and, while this did mean more people were about, Skade said the lack of proper infrastructure would continue to make the area a favoured dumping ground.
Philippi East is surrounded by Nyanga, Mitchells Plain, and Cross Roads, all areas which also feature prominently on the crime list.
Mayoral committee member for energy and climate change Phindile Maxiti said 97.8% of Philippi East residents had access to piped water, 97.3% to electricity for lighting, 98.4% to refuse removal and 94.3% to sanitation provided by the City of Cape Town.
“The city only provides lighting on public land and in general can only provide lighting on the periphery of informal settlements established on private land. The city recently installed a number of such high-mast lights in the area, but these were vandalised within a few hours. The city has repeatedly called for community members to take ownership of the area’s electrical infrastructure to enhance community safety and living conditions.”
Maxiti said several formal housing projects were under way in the area, notably the Sheffield Road project and projects in neighbouring areas including Nyanga, Gugulethu, Ottery, Retreat, Delft, Manenberg, and Beacon Valley. There were also a number of informal settlements upgrade projects in the area.
“Where the city is able to do so, some possible services are provided. It must be noted that the city follows a systematic and fair approach. Due to the great accommodation need, the city must spend its resources in a planned and budgeted manner.”