Cape Town danger areas

[splat]

1 hour ago, DJR said:

I would expect the whole of Sea Point and Green Point to become more of a security problem in the next few weeks and months. When the City evicted the illegal street people in green Point, a large percentage of them did not go to the shelters or the offered relocation site. They simply dispersed before the Sherrif moved in and they moved into the rest of the neighbourhood. Now there will be many single and small group encampments all over, just not one large tent and plastic town. The majority of them are just down and out people and mostly harmless, but the real criminals, muggers, robbers hide among them. So, beware. It will remain a problem until the neighbourhood watch harass them enough to move to other areas.........yes, the problem will not go away because there is currently no way to solve it, just to displace it somewhere else. Sad, but true.

It seems like the CoCT did a blitz over the last few days. The Castle was also cleared (and also caught alight) and an area below Wynberg taxi rank (which was disrupted by gang related violence).
Lots of displaced and angry people all over the place now.

[DJR]

14 minutes ago, splat said:

It seems like the CoCT did a blitz over the last few days. The Castle was also cleared (and also caught alight) and an area below Wynberg taxi rank (which was disrupted by gang related violence).
Lots of displaced and angry people all over the place now.

Yes, close to where I live we had the same. Cardboard and plastic city broken up, lots of angry people everywhere and suddenly you have to keep a close eye and call the City Improvement District patrols to move people off your porch or your parking before they get permanent rights to live there, **** all over and create a fire hazard. Also, a sudden escalation of breakins into cars and theft of copper pipes, cast iron and water meters.

[cadenceblur]

2 hours ago, DJR said:

I would expect the whole of Sea Point and Green Point to become more of a security problem in the next few weeks and months. When the City evicted the illegal street people in green Point, a large percentage of them did not go to the shelters or the offered relocation site. They simply dispersed before the Sherrif moved in and they moved into the rest of the neighbourhood. Now there will be many single and small group encampments all over, just not one large tent and plastic town. The majority of them are just down and out people and mostly harmless, but the real criminals, muggers, robbers hide among them. So, beware. It will remain a problem until the neighbourhood watch harass them enough to move to other areas.........yes, the problem will not go away because there is currently no way to solve it, just to displace it somewhere else. Sad, but true.

Case in point I see a post re 2 bikes stolen in Sea Point from a garage..

[ChrisF]

40 minutes ago, splat said:

It seems like the CoCT did a blitz over the last few days. The Castle was also cleared (and also caught alight) and an area below Wynberg taxi rank (which was disrupted by gang related violence).
Lots of displaced and angry people all over the place now.

 

Like clock work .... cleaning the city the week before the CTCT ....

 

 

The IRONY .... the very inner city residents STOPPED the process to provide a 100 bed facility to help needy people get back on their feet.  The COCT is trying to provide these facilities, each the "local residents" stops the projects ....  Then these same "local residents" gets upset about people living on the streets ..... 

 

Until the route cause is addressed, the crime wont let up.

 

SURE - there will always be "some" crime, but if a significant portion of these people are afforded the opportunity to get back on their feet, then there can be a drop in the crime.

[Dylanabanana]

Wife & her friend had an attempted mugging on Helshoogte pass at around 6:20 Sunday morning. There was a group of 4 of us, myself and another friend were slightly ahead from them.

It happened around the first corner to the right, when he jumped out the bush behind the railing about 5m away from with a gun demanding them to stop. Which she and her responded with a F that and sprinted as fast as they could. 

Another cyclist called the local armed response, but he was gone by then. She's a bit shaken still, but doing fine otherwise. 

[nonky]

19 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

Like clock work .... cleaning the city the week before the CTCT ....

 

 

The IRONY .... the very inner city residents STOPPED the process to provide a 100 bed facility to help needy people get back on their feet.  The COCT is trying to provide these facilities, each the "local residents" stops the projects ....  Then these same "local residents" gets upset about people living on the streets ..... 

 

Until the route cause is addressed, the crime wont let up.

 

SURE - there will always be "some" crime, but if a significant portion of these people are afforded the opportunity to get back on their feet, then there can be a drop in the crime.

Any facts to back that up?  As far as I am aware, the new 300-bed homeless shelter has been approved and the Haven Shelter increased in size.

This was a Court-approved eviction, so due process was followed.  The people in question do not want to be housed in a shelter or rehoused.

Source: 

https://www.capetownetc.com/news/citys-300-bed-safe-space-homeless-shelter-gets-green-light/

[ChrisF]

3 minutes ago, nonky said:

Any facts to back that up?  As far as I am aware, the new 300-bed homeless shelter has been approved and the Haven Shelter increased in size.

This was a Court-approved eviction, so due process was followed.  The people in question do not want to be housed in a shelter or rehoused.

Source: 

https://www.capetownetc.com/news/citys-300-bed-safe-space-homeless-shelter-gets-green-light/

 

Zonnebloem shelter - been in the newspapers a few months back.

 

One of the articles - https://www.news24.com/news24/community-newspaper/peoples-post/have-your-say-on-new-shelter-planned-for-district-six-20230620

 

 

YES, there are/were MANY of these projects !!  Sadly very few make it past the "public participation" phase.

 

 

 

EDIT : the term  "shelter" is often mis-used in media.  The Zonenbloem facility was earmarked as a rehabilitation centre.  A shelter with the sole purpose of getting people back on their feet, and helping them with basic skills.   This is totally different to the hot-meal-and-cot type facilities.

Edited February 26, 2024 by ChrisF

[Rapunzel]

On 2/17/2024 at 12:26 PM, RossTopher said:

Really says it all. 

Hopefully, with enough views and sharing, this gets to the right people and maybe sees some action. I doubt it, but a boy can dream. 

If it was just another south african having a moan, it's one thing, but coming from a tourist who comes here every year, puts money into our economy... Maybe, just maybe. 

So interestingly, the idea of sharing a story in the hope that somebody will take action is a common problem. 

Here's a simple solution to many of the problems with the cycle lane: you go here and log a service request so that it can be actioned.

Granted homelessness and criminal activity is not a simple fix but for many maintenance issues, they get resolved. I've logged 12 requests over the past 2 months (mowing, traffic light timing, dumping, potholes, street lights, ...) and they've been resolved. I sadly haven't been able to get to town for a number of weeks but I did log a request for the paving on the cycle lane at the exit into town (under the freeway), vegetation overgrowth as well as numerous patches of damaged or removed tar between the N1 bridge and town. The people responsible for maintenance don't ride bikes so they don't see the problems. We have to be their eyes.

[olmec]

4 hours ago, splat said:

Lots of displaced and angry people all over the place now

I think you're bang-on-the-money here.  

For example: a breakout of gang violence in the Bo-kaap: https://www.instagram.com/stories/thehumansnarrative/3311129197370107816?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igsh=Znl3ZDZ1Mjg1cGpu

[Robbie Stewart]

9 hours ago, DJR said:

I would expect the whole of Sea Point and Green Point to become more of a security problem in the next few weeks and months. When the City evicted the illegal street people in green Point, a large percentage of them did not go to the shelters or the offered relocation site. They simply dispersed before the Sherrif moved in and they moved into the rest of the neighbourhood. Now there will be many single and small group encampments all over, just not one large tent and plastic town. The majority of them are just down and out people and mostly harmless, but the real criminals, muggers, robbers hide among them. So, beware. It will remain a problem until the neighbourhood watch harass them enough to move to other areas.........yes, the problem will not go away because there is currently no way to solve it, just to displace it somewhere else. Sad, but true.

On my return leg on Saturday I was caught in what was by then settled rainfall. I was heated from my ride so not too fussed. What caught my attention was when I was navigating the pavement in Seapoint (lack of pedestrians and cars driving like chops in the rain) and saw a homeless guy taking shelter from the rain under a bus shelter while bundled up in what little he wore and trying to sleep.

It made me realize how fortunate I am and how easily things could go pear-shaped, and what makes me any different to that poor soul also just trying to stay warm, and dry, and wondering where the next meal is coming from.

[Andreas_187]

Apparently there was another attack on the bridge from Woodstock coming on to the N1. Happened on Saturday morning 

Edited February 27, 2024 by Andreas_187

[nonky]

On 2/26/2024 at 10:06 AM, ChrisF said:

 

Zonnebloem shelter - been in the newspapers a few months back.

 

One of the articles - https://www.news24.com/news24/community-newspaper/peoples-post/have-your-say-on-new-shelter-planned-for-district-six-20230620

 

 

YES, there are/were MANY of these projects !!  Sadly very few make it past the "public participation" phase.

 

 

 

EDIT : the term  "shelter" is often mis-used in media.  The Zonenbloem facility was earmarked as a rehabilitation centre.  A shelter with the sole purpose of getting people back on their feet, and helping them with basic skills.   This is totally different to the hot-meal-and-cot type facilities.

Thanks for the link - that one was opposed by the District Six residents / associations (IIRC) - it appears  that NO ONE wants a shelter on their doorstep, not just the privileged few living on the Atlantic Seaboard.

It should be recognized that this is not just simple eviction and nothing else - last night, social workers / CoCT representatives were interviewing the homeless sleeping on the Promenade (which is also a huge problem).  Not sure why, just interesting to see the ongoing initiatives.

[Meezo]

i pass that proposed location daily on my commute to get to table mountain, i can see in the surrounds the growing increase in illegal dwellings... its becoming more and more nervy going through there in the morning and and afternoon. honestly i feel way way more safer on table mountain itself...

[ChrisF]

1 hour ago, nonky said:

Thanks for the link - that one was opposed by the District Six residents / associations (IIRC) - it appears  that NO ONE wants a shelter on their doorstep, not just the privileged few living on the Atlantic Seaboard.

It should be recognized that this is not just simple eviction and nothing else - last night, social workers / CoCT representatives were interviewing the homeless sleeping on the Promenade (which is also a huge problem).  Not sure why, just interesting to see the ongoing initiatives.

 

Real pity the Zonnebloem one got stopped.

 

School at the back, then just EMPTY erven all around. 

 

The facility was to have an area with a couple of computers, for basic skills training.  Various other initiatives to get people to re-integrate into the world.  So much more than just a meal and a cot.

 

 

Was surprising to see just how many of these initiatives are up and running, and how many more the Western Cape Government (this is much wider than COCT) is doing along these lines.

 

 

 

SURE - there are, and will always be three groups:

- criminals ... these wont be affected by these efforts

- "street people" (or which ever politically correct term is to be used) .... these dont want more than a meal and a cot in winter ... they WANT to b on the street

- the down on their luck .... there are a multitude of people that pass through these re-integration facilities, many of whom succesfully re-integrate, get back on their feet and life a normal life again.  (jip ... many fall back into the old bad habits that got them their in the first place)

 

 

Good to see the efforts that goes into these facilities.

[ChrisF]

1 hour ago, Meezo said:

i pass that proposed location daily on my commute to get to table mountain, i can see in the surrounds the growing increase in illegal dwellings... its becoming more and more nervy going through there in the morning and and afternoon. honestly i feel way way more safer on table mountain itself...

 

Keeping that site active would have been a lot saver for everybody

[Meezo]

Another phone grab on the bridge out of the owner of Woodstock Cycleworks pocket... He's texted from his wife phone now... doesn't seemed like he was hurt