NATASHA PRINCE
Staff Reporter
Nyanga is Cape Town’s most dangerous suburb for the fourth consecutive year, recording the most murders in the province – although its 198 reported murders during the past financial year was down from last year’s 217.
Rondebosch is one of the safest suburbs, having no recorded murders for the year, along with Simon’s Town, Mowbray, Fish Hoek, Bothasig, Redelingshuys, Eendekuil, Elands Bay, McGregor, Napier, Riviersonderend, Suurbraak and Van Rhyns Dorp.
The latest crime statistics show that in Nyanga the number of reported sexual crimes decreased from 386 last year to 368 this year. Cases of assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm rose from 925 last year to 990 this year.
Nyanga residents had mixed reactions to the news, with some saying they were not affected by crime while others said it was a daily occurrence.
Some residents slammed the police, saying there were not enough visible patrols and that police were too slow, while Rondebosch residents said police were prompt and swift.
Ayanda Zato, who works at a fruit stall at the Nyanga taxi rank, said: “Crime will never end in Nyanga. Every fortnight or at the end of the month when people get paid, people get robbed when they come home from work.”
He said many crimes occurred at night, thus were difficult for police to monitor.
His friend Victor Mhlangu said he recently saw a man being stabbed at the taxi rank in broad daylight.
When asked about crime in the area, resident Nomsa Majikizela said: “It (crime) was made here.”
Her purse was snatched last month while she was walking home.
Her friend, Andile Magwaza, added: “When we call the police they take their own time – here we call them ‘the latecomers’.”
Cordelia Namata said that cable theft, electricity theft and robberies were concerning: “
There are definitely not enough police. We want them to patrol, especially in the morning.”
Asanda Xhoba, who has been living in Nyanga for three years, said she did not have bad experiences with crime.
“I think that Khayelitsha and Langa are worse.”
Nonkumbuzo Magadlela, who lives in the area and has a shop in a container near the taxi rank, said she felt safe because there was always activity at the taxi rank.
In Rondebosch Mark David, who has lived in the area for 12 years, said he found it “pretty safe”. His house had been robbed three times in 12 years, but he thought that was relatively rare.
He said the Rondebosch police were of the best. “When I was robbed they were there within five minutes with the armed response guys.”
Thami Gama, who has lived in the area for three years, said crime had not affected him and that he felt relatively safe walking around at night.
But another resident, Tutu Badaru, said her housemate was robbed recently during the day. “But there’s no place that’s safe really – it’s really about time and chance these days.”