Meeting Phoenix residents gathered at Zeus Park where they discuss various issues faced by the community, which include illegal dumping, drugs and alcohol abuse in public. PICTURE: BHEKI RADEBE
Image: BHEKI RADEBE
Substance abuse in public places, crime, illegal trade, dumping and crime were among the things that Phoenix residents deal with daily.
So says Phoenix ratepayers and community forum treasurer Amanda Kemp. She said issues include robberies, illegal parking and stabbings, at a public meeting on Wednesday February 19, at Zeus Park.
She said residents complained of vehicles for hire illegally parked in Freedom Way.
"These drivers wait for customers, they consume alcohol, block the roads that go to residential homes, and allegedly inappropriately touch young girls," she said.
She also said the community is getting worried about rising crime in Phoenix, as children can't walk by themselves to school any more.
"Law enforcement doesn't come out here to check," she said. "We even found drugs hidden in one the bras of a woman selling clothes."
She added that they have approached SAPS multiple times but they do not come out and that the Community Policing Forum were not producing results.
Councilor Anthony Bernadie reminded residents of the nuisance bylaw and advised them to call Law Enforcement.
The City's Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos said: “Joe Slovo was previously a free-trading zone until recently when the City approved an informal trading plan, which is aimed at regulating and managing informal trading activities in the area. The City's work to implement the trading plan is currently under way, which includes improving the road reserve through infrastructure upgrades that will clearly demarcate trading bays and sites. The infrastructure upgrades will also enhance the safety of road users and create visually-appealing trading sites”.
He added that the City will also issue permits to traders with clear rules and conditions.
Phoenix CPF Chairperson Mariel Davila-Buys said that she hadn't received any case numbers to follow up on with police.
"The Communication needs to be improved within the community, among members in the different areas of Phoenix," she said.
She also questioned whether Law Enforcement had been invited to the meeting since most of the complaints were by-law infractions.
"I was present as CPF chairperson. I haven’t received cases with their CAS numbers to follow up with SAPS."
She added that the community needs visibility patrols to deter crime but only elderly people are helping, she said. However, she added that if residents worked together with the City and police "we can improve the current reality in Phoenix".
Tabletalk asked the Milnerton police for a comment but they had not responded by deadline.