The GPNW recently sent a letter to Interim Ward Councilor Matthew Kempthorne and to Mr. Wayne Aldridge of the City of Cape Town expressing concerns about the growing number of illegal structures that are appearing near the Pinocchio Creche and opposite the SAPS Station on Bill Peters Drive.
There has been an increase in muggings and attempted muggings in the area and we are concerned that the encampment near the creche is home to people involved in criminal activity in the area.
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Original Piece From the October 2020 Newsletter:
The GPNW notes with concern the number of illegal structures that have been erected along Helen Suzman Boulevard (near Hill Road) and along Bill Peter Drive (opposite SAPS.) We recently sent the following letter to Interim Ward Councilor Matthew Kempthorne and to Mr. Wayne Aldridge of the City of Cape Town expressing our concerns on behalf of our members:
Dear Sirs:
I’m writing on behalf of the Green Point Neighbourhood Watch (GPNW) to express our concern about the increase in informal structures being erected by homeless individuals along Helen Suzman Boulevard and Bill Peter’s Drive.
We recognize that homelessness, in and of itself is not a crime, but we are concerned that the situation is beginning to threaten the safety of the community. While most of the homeless resort to sleeping rough through no fault of their own, and many would embrace opportunities to get off the streets, there are those for whom homelessness is a choice and who prey off of members of the community either through aggressive begging or petty crime.
We have seen a noticeable increase in muggings and attempted muggings in recent months and while we cannot directly attribute this to the increase in the number of homeless in the area, there is widespread belief amongst members of the community that the two are related.
In addition, we notice that there has been an increase in the number of homeless structures in the area between Main Road and Helen Suzman Boulevard in the vicinity of Hill Road. We have reason to believe that one or more of the street people encamped there were involved in the brutal assault of a male individual (this is also the area where a homeless person was found murdered last year.) The encampment is situated next to the Pinocchio Creche which we believe endangers the safety of the children there.
The situation is becoming a serious risk to the safety of both residents in the area and passers-by along Main Road. We request that the City pay urgent attention to the situation before it deteriorates further.
Sincerely
Peter Flentov
Chair GPNW
EXCO has been in regular communication with Dave Bryant, our now former Ward Councillor, over the past six months with respect to dealing with illegal structures in the area. These efforts go largely unnoticed by members and by the community.
Councillor Bryant was always responsive to our concerns and arranged for numerous clean-up operations. We wish to thank Dave for his care and commitment to the Green Point and Three Anchor Bay communities; he has continued intervening on our behalf even after he took his seat in Parliament. Thank you Councillor Bryant and good luck in your new position. We are sure you will look after the interests of all South Africans as diligently as you did for the members of our community.