Milnerton residents said they want more visibility and more protection from police and other law enforcement agencies.
This comes after a man was stabbed to death in the neighbourhood last Saturday.
A weekend that was supposed to be one of celebration and being safe home with family ended in bloody heartbreak for one family.
According to the Milnerton Crime Watch’s Jason Mill, the incident happened on Saturday morning, March 30. He said a man was walking en route to work around 6.50am when he was attacked by unknown suspects who demanded his cellphone.
“The assailants stole his cellphone before they fled the scene. Members of the Milnerton Crime Watch Trust (MCWT) contacted one of the MCWT patrol vehicles on active patrol and they attended the scene. Unfortunately during the attack, the victim was stabbed and tragically succumbed to his wounds despite the best efforts of residents to assist him.
“The South African Police Service was alerted and took over the scene, with further investigation still under way. A memorial was set up by residents in Algoa Road. We are unable to share any personal details of the victim or his family as we wish to protect and respect their privacy during this time of immense sadness,” said Mr Mill.
The victim who was killed last Saturday was identified by residents as Will Doud. He is survived by his wife and two children.
A number of angry residents from Milnerton are pointing the finger at SAPS and say it is the lack of visibility that led to this tragedy.
Greg Thomas, a Milnerton resident for the last 25 years, said that things were getting worse in his neighbourhood year on year.
“I know there have been so many changes over the last 25 years, so of course I can’t expect things to stay the same. But the brazen acts of criminals these days makes one feel that they aren’t even scared of the law anymore. A man gets killed in broad daylight and there still haven’t been any arrests. This is a scary time for us as residents of this area. We have had so many muggings recently that it really seems like we are being targeted,” he said.
A spate of robberies at the Lagoon and Woodbridge Island has had residents on edge recently (“Lagoon muggings cause concern”, Tabletalk, March 27).
Milnerton resident, Janice Shulman, said her husband and daughter were still quite shaken after they were robbed at Lagoon Beach last month.
“They are still very wary and nervous now about venturing into public spaces. Crime in Milnerton and its surrounds is rampant in the last few months. Milnerton SAPS has a mandate to keep our precinct safe and secure, which they are failing at miserably. My husband immediately called Milnerton SAPS following the incident and asked for the criminals to be followed and apprehended. He was told that this was not possible. He then went to open a case at Milnerton SAPS and was met with complete apathy and disinterest. After an hour of waiting at Milnerton SAPS and being sent from one queue to another with no police officer available to take his details, he left in frustration,” she said.
Ms Shulman said the mayor and councillor need to be challenged to engage all arms of the law to intervene in this situation.
A few weeks ago, a video was shared on social media where it showed two men robbing and stabbing a woman in Parklands. Tabletalk asked Table View SAPS on an update on that case, but they hadn’t responded by the time this issue went to print.
Mr Mill said robberies and muggings were frequent in the area in the last few weeks.
“There have been reports of other incidents at beaches not only in Milnerton but also further up the coast in Sunset Beach, Blouberg and Melkbos.”
Milnerton Crime Watch Trust safety tips:
- As far as possible, run or walk with others. If it is not possible to run or walk with others, pick routes that have a higher amount of vehicle or foot traffic so that you do not get isolated. Pick well-lit and populated areas, preferably with sidewalks or designated paths for pedestrians. Avoid secluded or poorly lit areas, especially during early morning or late evening hours.
- Tell someone about your intended route and estimated return time. This ensures someone knows where you are in case of an emergency.
- Always stay sharp and aware of your surroundings. Avoid distractions like music or phone calls, especially with headphones or earphones that block out or cover other sounds that could prevent you from noticing potential hazards.
- Stay off your phone, not only does it distract you, but having your phone out could make you a potential target for criminals seeing that you have a valuable item on you.
- Carry some form of identification with your name, emergency contact, and any relevant medical information.
- As hard as it might be, do not fight the attacker. Co-operate with them by giving them your phone or wallet, and as soon as possible try to put as much distance between yourself and them by running away.
