Cape Town – The situation in Nyanga was improving but more could be done to better the area and help it shrug off its murder capital tag, residents said on Thursday.
“The police are doing a good job in Nyanga but they need to employ more police officers and they need to redeem our trust,” said 33-year-old resident Vuyolwethu Mbira.
Mbira, who has been living in Nyanga for the past 12 years, was attending the Western Cape Justice Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster’s Service Delivery Imbizo on Thursday. The imbizo was aimed at providing information to residents on issues of violence, rights and responsibilities, and legal matters.
But unlike the majority of residents present, Mbira was not there to see police minister Nathi Nhleko, who delivered the main address on the day. Instead, he was there to sign up for what would be his first work experience in 33 years.
“We are here for a learnership for disabled people where we will be studying business practice,” said Mbira, discussing his and his friends’ plans for the day.
Mbira and the rest of his group were all in wheelchairs. In 1997, Mbira was caught in gang crossfire and a stray bullet caught him in the neck. Ever since, he has been in a wheelchair and is well aware of the effects of crime.
A few years after the shooting incident, Mbira decided to make a move to Nyanga which he says is far busier than Gugulethu but where people were always friendly and helpful. These are the people Mbira said needed more protection from police who often betrayed their trust.
“People are scared of police because sometimes they are as violent as the gangsters. They need to work harder to win back our trust,” he said.
Another resident, 18-year-old Noluthando Tshemese, said she had witnessed an improvement in the fight against crime.
“It’s been really quiet and that is thanks to police working with the community to stop violence,” she said, with her friends nodding enthusiastically in agreement.
If Tshemese could speak to Nhleko, she said she would ask him to ensure the working relationship between Nyanga police and residents continued.
An elderly woman who wanted to know what Tshemese was talking about said she agreed.
“We know our area and we know who the criminals are. The police must work with us.”
Stephanie Kilroe, the development manager at the Etafeni Centre, a project aimed at providing care for children affected by AIDS in Nyanga, said she had been in the area for almost forty years and had witnessed “some changes for the good”.
“Almost all the shacks and most of the empty land around the Etafeni Centre have gone and have been replaced by small houses,” said Kilroe, “That is certainly progress of a sort.”
However, in Kilroe’s opinion, the crime situation had not improved.
“We now have a good bloke in charge of the Nyanga police station, but I think we’re still the murder capital of South Africa and our staff and beneficiaries at Etafeni are still at risk of being shot and mugged,” she said.
“I don’t think it is, but the crime can sometimes feel worse than before.”
With its focus on HIV/AIDS, Kilroe was asked about the infection rate: “HIV prevalence has remained at 28.8% for years – so no improvement there – but we have been able to delay the age of sexual debut a little.”
She added that with universal roll-out of treatment there were fewer deaths and less stigma.
“So fewer orphans and infected babies,” said Kilroe, “That’s good.”
If government wanted to help Nyanga, Kilroe suggested a partnership like Etafeni’s ‘Greening Nyanga’.
“We assist unemployed young men in Nyanga by stipending them, putting them through our ‘Fit for Life, Fit for Work’ programme and helping them access skills – and they do the work of cleaning up refuse, rubble and rats in Nyanga.”
Kilroe said the young men planted trees and grass as well as creating community parks and home food gardens. If government were to partner with them, much more could be done said Kilroe.
“It is important in development to see that people grow – as well as trees and grass,” she said. “We need everyone in Nyanga to feel respected – and that starts with having a job, being creative, and living in a clean and attractive environment.”
ANA