The South Beach Urban Improvement Precinct is calling for the removal of car guards from the area amid allegations that they are aiding and abetting crime.
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Durban - The South Beach Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP) is calling for the removal of car guards from the area amid allegations that they are aiding and abetting crime.
The organisation has alleged that the guards are operating as drug runners for dealers and have been illegally employed by the community policing forum (CPF) because some have criminal records.
Ebrahim Vadachia, chairman of the UIP, said about 25 guards had been appointed by the CPF last year.
After being monitored, several of them were caught involved in illicit activities by two private security companies.
“A while ago the CPF came up with the idea of employing car guards in the area and said that they would be vetted by the police. However, we don’t believe this was done correctly. Many of them have criminal records and we have verified this. They are involved in the drug trade and car break-ins. Residents have seen this and brought it to our attention, but the guards are still operating freely. They are not even supervised.”
The CPF said it had not employed the guards but given them reflector vests. The SAPS was responsible for vetting the guards.
“The SAPS found some were up to no good, so we got rid of them. They were not employed by us but were already in the area. We just tried to introduce a system to have some control over them,” said CPF chairman Vuyani Msomi.
A resident, Riaz Amod, said he had seen car guards sell drugs on the streets.
“The police are sometimes parked nearby and do nothing.”
Yvonne Badenhorst, who has lived in the area for 27 years, said: “We don’t want them in the area. They must go. In the years I’ve lived here, the area has deteriorated drastically. We don’t need more crime because of car guards.”
Two car guards in the area, Tony Jordaan and Erick Mkhosi, said they had been appointed by a policeman last year.
“Lieutenant Peter Zikhali from the Point police station came and took our details and fingerprints. We were then given vests and name tags. We officially started in December. I understand why some residents are upset. Some car guards are involved in illegal activities and they give us all a bad name,” said Jordaan.
Zikhali did not answer his phone and KZN police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane was unable to respond by the time of going to press.
nabeelah.shaikh@inl.co.za
Sunday Tribune