Cape Town danger areas

[cadenceblur]

3 minutes ago, Robbie Stewart said:

I suppose its because these people know that the odds are in their favour, even if they get caught in the act. Prosecution in this country is a joke. Unless you say the wrong thing, then all hell will break loose to ensure you are sufficiently made an example of. But for the rest, its a free for all.

indeed, that is true - sad - but true

[Stephan]

I am so fed up with this nonsense. I’ve said this before and will say it again. Time for vigilante style justice. Why must we suffer the trauma mentally and physically and they can get away with it every time? 

Edited May 6 by Stephan
.

[Robbie Stewart]

11 hours ago, Stephan said:

I am so fed up with this nonsense. I’ve said this before and will say it again. Time for vigilante style justice. Why must we suffer the trauma mentally and physically and they can get away with it every time? 

By being a vigilante you are no better than they are. 

[DJR]

Jungle justice is a very deep, very dark hole for criminal, vigilante and innocent bystander alike and near impossible to get out of once you are in it.

[Wannabe]

So what do you guys suggest be done to remedy this situation? Honest question, not trolling.

SAPS clearly has no interest, private security companies previously patrolled the area, and even had a vehicle stationed close by, but that has now also fallen to the wayside. Probably due to cost.

 

 

[Links MTB]

My wife got bike-jacked about a year ago on Hellshoogte (I was just about 300m ahead oblivious of what's happening behind) and then late last year we were attacked on the Woodstock bridge!

Cellphones are a big drawing card, not only for a resale perspective, but also to get access to banking apps etc (as discussed in length on this thread) - this is a worldwide issue, and I don't think there's much we can do about that.

However, the theft of bicycles is a different story. The question that should be asked is what happens to all the stolen bikes?? If there was no market for stolen bikes, then cyclists would not have a target on their backs. The Police doesn't have the will or manpower, but what puzzles me is why hasn't the insurance companies, who are losing gazillions, not put a small investigative team together to look into this. All they need is 2/3 ex-detectives and I bet you they'll identify the players and loopholes in the black market quick-quick!   

[Prince Albert Cycles]

16 minutes ago, Links MTB said:

My wife got bike-jacked about a year ago on Hellshoogte (I was just about 300m ahead oblivious of what's happening behind) and then late last year we were attacked on the Woodstock bridge!

Cellphones are a big drawing card, not only for a resale perspective, but also to get access to banking apps etc (as discussed in length on this thread) - this is a worldwide issue, and I don't think there's much we can do about that.

However, the theft of bicycles is a different story. The question that should be asked is what happens to all the stolen bikes?? If there was no market for stolen bikes, then cyclists would not have a target on their backs. The Police doesn't have the will or manpower, but what puzzles me is why hasn't the insurance companies, who are losing gazillions, not put a small investigative team together to look into this. All they need is 2/3 ex-detectives and I bet you they'll identify the players and loopholes in the black market quick-quick!   

This !

[Acre]

2 hours ago, Wannabe said:

So what do you guys suggest be done to remedy this situation? Honest question, not trolling.

SAPS clearly has no interest, private security companies previously patrolled the area, and even had a vehicle stationed close by, but that has now also fallen to the wayside. Probably due to cost.

 

 

I went to the police station today to open a case after the Kayamandi incident I was involved in on Monday afternoon and because I couldn't identify the perps, they didn't want to open a case and only took my details down and will add it to their system as a complaint only. So yes, I agree,  the local SAPS clearly have no interest in the situation.  Feeling defeated as I type this sitting with my leg up not being able to work with my knee still pretty smashed up.

Edited May 7 by Acre

[cadenceblur]

16 minutes ago, Acre said:

I went to the police station today to open a case after the Kayamandi incident I was involved in on Monday afternoon and because I couldn't identify the perps, they didn't want to open a case and only took my details down and will add it to their system as a complaint only. So yes, I agree,  the local SAPS clearly have no interest in the situation.  Feeling defeated as I type this sitting with my leg up not being able to work with my knee still pretty smashed up.

WTAF! How about they do some bloody investigative work! Utterly pathetic.

I would go as far to say the calibre of police station probably correlates to the level of crime in said area. 

[Wannabe]

32 minutes ago, Acre said:

I went to the police station today to open a case after the Kayamandi incident I was involved in on Monday afternoon and because I couldn't identify the perps, they didn't want to open a case and only took my details down and will add it to their system as a complaint only. So yes, I agree,  the local SAPS clearly have no interest in the situation.  Feeling defeated as I type this sitting with my leg up not being able to work with my knee still pretty smashed up.

Go back and insist they open an Attempted Murder or at the least an Assault GBH case, as these perp's actions COULD have caused your death if you had to fall in the roadway and get flatten by a vehicle. Their actions could potentially have this result, intended or not. 

I would suggest this to all the latest, and heavens forbid, any future victims of these heartless and braindead scum. 

Should they refuse to do it, insist to speak to the most senior person on duty, but push to speak to the Station Commander (sorry, old term, not sure what he will be called now, but he is the Main Peanut in the packet there.)

 

Edited May 7 by Wannabe
Added content

[DJR]

A few years back we had a problem with drug dealing in our street. We tried to lay a complaint and were told to write down car registration numbers and times of the dealings and supply it to the police. The neigbours compiled a list. I delivered it by hand to the local station commander. The VERY next day the suspicious dealings disappeared. NO police patrols, NO sting operation. The ONLY logic is that the info somehow made it to the drug dealers and they moved somewhere else.  I suppose I am saying not to put your trust or your hopes on the SAPS. Even though they DID solve our drug dealing problem. They are not going to solve the bikejacking problem.

[DJR]

4 hours ago, Wannabe said:

So what do you guys suggest be done to remedy this situation? Honest question, not trolling.

SAPS clearly has no interest, private security companies previously patrolled the area, and even had a vehicle stationed close by, but that has now also fallen to the wayside. Probably due to cost.

 

 

Sadly, I think it is up to us as cyclists and citizens to look after ourselves.

Most of us already do that at home and through our neighbourhood watches. We pay willingly (extra tax) for armed response, alarm monitoring, cameras, beams, electric fences etc.. Perhaps we should widen our approach? Get private security firms involved, fund them to do what the SAPS are not doing. Patrol, sting, investigate, catch and prosecute the criminals!

Perhaps organisations like the PPA should also add the criminal aspect of cycling safety to their list of things to do? Not just helping to prosecute hit and run drivers. At least the PPA have been there for 40 + years. But I won't hold my own breath for their help either.

I don't think involving the politicians will help. They will promise the earth and do nothing. They have no long term vision or commitment and only think as far as their next election.

People, neigbourhoods, towns, districts, will have to look after ourselves and put our money where our mouths are. 

[Mook]

What I find rather peculiar is that the authorities have as yet not installed a mast-top 360° surveilance camera across the road from Khayamandi. A speed camera has survived that hot spot for the past 15 years. I guess the latter provides the munic with a handsome income whereas the surveillance camera would not.

The technology exists - why are the aurhorities so reluctant to use tech?

[firewolf]

On 4/29/2025 at 10:41 AM, Thomo said:

Strange that there's been nothing more about this.? 🤷🏻‍♂️

Agree. Maybe the reports were wrong 

[ChrisF]

3 hours ago, Mook said:

What I find rather peculiar is that the authorities have as yet not installed a mast-top 360° surveilance camera across the road from Khayamandi. A speed camera has survived that hot spot for the past 15 years. I guess the latter provides the munic with a handsome income whereas the surveillance camera would not.

The technology exists - why are the aurhorities so reluctant to use tech?

 

I had a glimpse in their "Security Control Centre" (not sure what their term is for this) earlier this year.

 

It is something seriously impressive !!!

 

The backbone is there !

 

 

It is just the cost of a few cameras to monitor these KNOWN hot spots.

 

 

It just needs somebody to get the message accross to the correct person at Stellenbosch municipality.

 

 

Sad reality ... for nearly a decade this municipality has spent more energy on internal fighting than on getting the job done ....

[MORNE]

4 hours ago, ChrisF said:

 

I had a glimpse in their "Security Control Centre" (not sure what their term is for this) earlier this year.

 

It is something seriously impressive !!!

 

The backbone is there !

 

 

It is just the cost of a few cameras to monitor these KNOWN hot spots.

 

 

It just needs somebody to get the message accross to the correct person at Stellenbosch municipality.

 

 

Sad reality ... for nearly a decade this municipality has spent more energy on internal fighting than on getting the job done ....

That security room is probably like the bling express passport control gates at the airport….built to look nice and impress the know-nots, while providing anecdotal proof of government spending, but unfortunately not connected to anything that would make them function 😅