Naziziphiwo Buso
While the top brass of crime fighting in Nelson Mandela Bay had gathered for the first crime summit, seeking solutions for the increasing crime in the area, a court orderly was shot dead in the Motherwell Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
This brazen act saw police boss, Brigadier Abdoerahgmaan Humphries, who was set to speak on violent crimes and gangsterism, pull out of the programme at the eleventh hour.
The event at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, under the theme ‘Claiming back our metro’ was attended by Executive Mayor, Retief Odendaal, his Deputy, Mkhuseli Jack, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety & Security, Lawrence Troon, and community policing forums, among other dignitaries.
Odendaal, who spoke briefly, said economic development through job creation should always be centred on the work done by the municipality as a means to fight crime.
He said economic freedom could see fewer people turning to crime for a means to live.
“The state of lawlessness in Nelson Mandela Bay has to come to an end, it highlights another failure of the city- the failure to grow the economy suitably so it becomes an inclusive economy.”
Odendaal said this was evident in the scourge of vandalism around the city. He said the city is looking at creating a bylaw that will prohibit the trading of copper around the city.
Speaking on crime and tourism, Bay Tourism Boss, Mpho Pebane, said the city needed the public to also participate in crime-fighting activities.
He said while the tourism department had strengthened relations with the security cluster, there needs to be more coordination and communication between the two.
Speaking on the robbery of tourists at Fort Frederick last month, Pebane, said more coordination and communication could have prevented the "embarrassing attack."
Police Colonel Mike Grobler agreed with Pebane, saying that the police could not fight crime alone and other departments were needed to assist where they can.
He encouraged the public to "be our eyes and ears on the ground.”
