Emmarentia Residents Association info@era.org.za (000) 111-1111

Crime up in Emmarentia and Greenside

In recent months, Emmarentia has had the most crime incidents of all the suburbs that SAPS Parkview covers.

At the Monday morning Community Safety Forum meetings, SAPS compares the crime for the week with the same week the year before.

In the last week of January, contact crime was up 260% on last year. Contact crime includes murder, attempted murder, sexual offences, common assault and robbery. 

Emmarentia and Greenside are amongst the suburbs with the highest vehicle theft. House burglaries and home invasions also featuring prominently. 

Another worrying trend is the increase in theft of fuses from mini sub-stations.

Being proactive

SAPS Parkview ‘doesn’t have enough vehicles or staff’, says Chair of Parkview Community Policing Forum (CPF), Geraldine Connell.

Nevertheless she says that the CPF is working on a plan to get ‘more security resources into the precinct’.

Currently they are in talks with neighbouring community patrollers. These patrollers have been covering the spruit from Alberts Farm down to Tana Road where there have been a number of muggings of walkers and cyclists.

Cyclist club, Jozi Trails, is also busy finalising a security plan to bring in security companies in the areas to be on standby 24/7 for any emergency along the spruit.

And to ensure that anyone that is arrested is properly detained, the Parkview CPF will be spending money to secure the police holding cells.

Meanwhile the CPF is busy finalising a survey which they want all residents in the precinct to complete.

‘We want to know residents’ experiences of crime as well as their needs and requests so that we can respond better,’ says Geraldine.

Once the survey is ready, ERA will e-mail residents with details of how to access it.

Car guards

Geraldine is aware of the problematic car guards on Greenhill Road. An attempt to work with the shopkeepers to install a model similar to the Parkhurst carguard model has failed.

She urges those who are harassed by car guards to report the incident to SAPS Parkview. Without this no case can be opened against them.

Harassment can be dealt with swiftly and effectively by going to one of the many shops on Greenhill and Komatie Road who have the WOZA app and can call security.  

Even better—subscribe to WOZA yourself and be able to summon security at the shake of your cellphone.

But do remember—not all car guards are problematic, tip those that do a good job.