Cyclists Unite

[Mental Mamba]

KAYAMANDI INCIDENT 22/10/2017

 

obviously i decided not to leave things as is and meet with or communicate with the various responsible entities in order to try and get something rolling in the safety and security of all us cycling past this area.

 

Now please note that i know that this is not the only area of concern and where incidents occur, but we have to start somewhere and I believe the municipalities have a responsibility of all of us as cyclists and of course the greater community to protect and safeguard us against criminal activities. this becomes more so when there is a known hot spots for criminal activities.

 

This being said I met with the mayoral committee member for protection services Stellenbosch and although I thought it to be a fruitful meeting and saw some light at the end of the tunnel, sadly it would seem as if it is treated with the same amount of urgency as with all other incidents in the country.....NOTHING HAPPENS.....

 

The same goes for the PPA. I had discussions with certain individuals and it would seem again as with everything else...the blame or problem is referred to someone else and it is always but always someone else problem and for someone else to sort out. I decided to send them a mail on the 31/10/2017, contents below"

 

 

""""Gentleman

 

This mail is one of sombre feelings and the blatant disregard for cyclists safety to the greater Stellenbosch area.

 

On Sunday 22/10/2017 @ 15h50 I was attacked by 4 individuals, 2 with massive butcher type knives. I was ripped off my bicycle and robbed of my cell phone, my 180k bike was not even a temptation, just the cell phone, sadly new s8. Even more sad was that I had just received it and not insured or even activated the tracking on it, 20k phone gone.

 

I was injured during the incident but luckily not to have been stabbed.

 

As the saying goes, “things happen until it happens to you, then something happens”

 

This has made me start a campaign where I believe that the municipalities should be held accountable. I believe that in order for us to support Stellenbosch where we spend money at coffee shops, events etc there needs to be a vested interest in our safety. I understand that they cannot place a security person everywhere there is an incident, but they can surely make a plan where they have information as a known hot spot for incidents. Based on this I started making calls and I have had a meeting with Mr. Quintin Smit “mayco member” protection services. Below some of the comments made with a follow up mail from myself.

 

Comments during discussion with Mr. Quitin Smit:

 

 

• You were of the opinion that the R304 @ specifically Kayamandi has been a problem area for some time and that you were aware of such.
  
• You had security in the area and for 18 months there were 0 incidents
  
• You had tried to use communities members to secure this area after the external contract security had expired but this failed due to intimidation
  
• You have had meetings with the SAPS and other units to discuss the issues in particular the assault and robbery of cyclists at the above area
  
• You have budgetary constraints
  
• Stellenbosch Municipality was busy working on a long term solution
  
• CCTV  has been approved but this would be for 2018 budget
  
• The interim solution would be to put a security person at staggered times
  
• You welcome any input from cyclists
  
• Cyclists are considered a value to Stellenbosch and you do carry our interest at heart and would do all necessary to try and assist
  
• You would be having meetings with Thorburn etc to see where they would be able to assist
  
• I would communicate with our cycling groups to see if we could get preferred cycle times as an interim solution
  
• A negative 2018 world cup “UCI member robbery” could have dire consequences to Stellenbosch as a safe cycling haven , as per Mr David Botha from “Stellenbosch fietsry”
  

 

Based on the above could you please let me know where we are and what interim solutions have been implemented if any.

 

I await your favourable response

 

The above mail was sent today, so I await his response. Why then the mail to you.

 

As I believe that the municipality has a responsibility towards us as cyclists specifically pertaining to safety and security, so do I believe that the PPA carries the same amount of responsibility. We pay our membership fees annually and the PPA also receives funds from other areas, surely a % of this can be specifically used for security initiatives where known “continued incidents occur”. Surely a % could be used as marketing awareness campaigns with the various municipalities and implementing initiatives towards crime reduction, security staff and or CCTV implementation. Even approaching business in the various municipalities for monthly contributions and in return marketing their business as a pro cycling establishments. I and I believe I speak for all cyclists would much rather support a business that supports me than one that does not.

 

Institutions like 360 Songo Specialised in the Kayamandi area should be asked what their contribution has been to reducing crime, well this is happening on Thursday as I have a meeting scheduled with Songo Phipasa.

SAPS should be pressured in doing their jobs, since my incident I have had no contact from the inv. Officer. I will be asking the question, why not.

The judicial system fails us, we need to put pressure on the courts.

Etc.

Etc.

Etc.

 

The list goes on and on and I think it is high time that the we start taking hands in our fight to free and safe moving on our bikes.

 

I await your response in this regard and also await feedback as to what initiatives the PPA has put in place or are currently being pursued in crime reduction initiatives. """""""

 

To date i have not received any feedback from either parties, this begs the question as to the real concerns by the various institutions. I am not trying to sound like a cry baby but i think we all have to put pressure on the various institutions to start taking us seriously. why should we support events and why should we pay memberships if our basic constitutional right to free and safe movement is not even a concern to the institutions, if it were i would've presumed an much more urgent response in solving issues like crime against us as cyclists.

 

I do not think it should be left, and I will continue to put pressure on these guys for action in the reduction of crime. I want to see visible concerted efforts by the responsible parties and this can only happen when we start standing together. 

 

Please feel free to comment and share, i need to see what the level of support is in order for me to pursue this further as I alone i am small, but together we make a difference 

 

Norman

[Sepia]

Good man Norman.  Just wish something would come of it though.

Just need a united approach like you suggested.  Unfortunately...........SAP is what it is, USELESS.

 

Thank you for trying to do something.

[Gordon15]

Sorry to hear about your attack. It sounds like even our personal safety app couldn't have helped you here, as you probably wouldn't have installed it yet! 

I will be following your progress on this with interest. I've had meetings with many people in municipalities and government regarding safety and security and I feel that the will to do anything positive is lacking. Immediately after an incident which makes the headlines there's a lot of talk, but that seems to quickly dissipate into committees or meetings and ultimately nothing happens, until the next time. 

[Greybeard]

The cycling track between Paarden Island and City Centre is another case in point. On Sunday I rode past the Milnerton market hoping to link up with anybody (group) to ride this very expensive piece of track but nobody was willing to chance the Woodstock section! There were approx 50 to eighty individuals and groups riding along the short section of the N1, both ways, to get to the Chappies area. It would be interesting to know at what cost this piece of track cost that is not being used.

[BuffsVintageBikes]

Well done Norman for tackling this head on, let us know where we can assist.

 

You are very correct in saying that many of the Stellenbosch cafe's derive a substantial portion of their income from cyclists. In my 22 yrs of cycling while living in the Cape I have almost always stopped in Stellies for a coffee & breakfast almost every time I've cycled through the town.

That has now stopped entirely while riding alone because I do not feel safe riding into the town and I don't see the point of risking my life & possessions for a breakfast. I now choose a wine farm closer to home (Brackenfell) and rather stop there to enjoy my morning brew.

 

Both Kayamandi and Cloetesville (I've been attacked there before) are high risk entry points into town and the other entry point via Polkadraai is a risk waiting to happen with the informal housing going up at a rapid rate near Vlottenburg Station.