Memorandum handed to SAPS at Imbizo

13th April 2024

Barrydale NHW
MEMORANDUM
13^th April 2024

This memorandum serves to highlight and address urgent issues in Barrydale regarding crime, experiences with SAPS, law enforcement, and social matters with the aim to resolve identified problems through a unified effort.

1. Crime

Please see the attached document and map of statistics as gathered by the Barrydale Neighbourhood Watch (NHW).

Unfortunately, repeated attempts to be issued with statistics pertaining to Barrydale crime have come to naught, and we have been forced to start gathering our own information in this regard.

Without previous years’ statistics, we cannot accurately gauge the increase in crime. However, from community input, it is clearly an unprecedented increase.

• Trespassing: 63 incidents
• Intruders: 3 incidents
• Theft: 11 incidents
• Burglary: 21 incidents
• Robbery and violence: 4 incidents

The above statistics have been gathered from January to 9 April 2024. They include those reported and unreported to SAPS but do not include domestic incidents or drunk and disorderly – the statistics do not include surrounding farms or Smitsville as we have no access to those crime reports as of yet. Information was gathered from active NHW members and from the public reports on Barrydale CBD crime groups.

It is apparent that crime has the potential to escalate to violence. A simple case in point is the “problem” children who make up a large contingent of trespassing cases who have on occasion wielded knives, never mind the adult criminals who have been noted to do the same.

2. SAPS from the Community Experience

• Certain officers have been known to refuse or dissuade members of the public from opening cases, or due procedure is not followed (a blank A4 paper is given to a victim of crime instead of the correct forms to open a case).
• It is known that the correct procedures have been followed, correct paperwork filled in. However, case numbers are not issued, case dockets are not handed to the detectives, cases are closed within a week for erroneous reasons, and in some instances, dockets were handed to SAPS members who are not ranked as detectives to investigate.
• SAPS members are locals in Smitsville, making it extremely difficult for them to address criminals who live in their area – it opens them up to being targets, or exposes them to potential corruption.
• On occasion, it is almost impossible to access the police station in the evening to report a crime in person as the gate is locked and staff within the station do not answer the phone.
• Some members of the public are afraid of victimisation or feel it is futile reporting incidents of crime based on previous experiences.
• Some members of SAPS are afraid of victimisation – either because they are “too diligent” in dealing with issues in the CBD areas and it is seen as a racial bias, or when dealing with other SAPS members such as a high ranking external SAPS member who has a house in the Padkamp.
• SAPS’s lack resources such as vehicles (we have one when we should have three).
• Lack of visible policing.
• Escalation in crime but no communication with the community on plans to address it.
• Holding cells are vulnerable – family members and friends have been seen talking to criminals in the back of the holding cells through the fence on church grounds.
• Known drug houses in Smitsville continue to operate unabated, locals are too afraid to speak out or report due to their close proximity and the possibility of victimisation, which extends to SAPS members living in the area.
• Criminals lurking in streets, loitering, or without any clear business, and known criminals out on parole or released from prison are often spotted during the day and late at night / early hours of the morning.
• Mountains are a weak point – criminals are using the mountain pathways to gain entry and fast exit routes. Problematic children, criminals, and teenagers are virtually impossible to track as the area has too many routes and there are too many places to hide, and they are extremely agile, moving very quickly. Another problem is vagrants and people with mental health issues living in the mountain areas, which include hiking trails. This makes it dangerous and damages tourism.
• Vagrants sleeping in the dump make it dangerous and stressful for residents.
• “Problem children and teenagers” have escalated from petty theft (for example stealing fruit from private property) to wielding knives when confronting vulnerable elderly residents after forcibly breaking into their property. They have formed a gang, have a sophisticated whistling system to warn others, and use cell phones and other methods of communication to case victims and avoid capture. They also use the ledge under the cell tower by the reservoir pipes as a lookout point. We are under the impression that adult criminal syndicates are advising them.
  

SAPS-specific solutions to consider:

1. SAPS procedures and oversight

The chain of command should instill a greater sense of duty regarding following due procedure. There should be zero complaints of victims being turned away with cases unopened. Better communication post-incident would instill higher confidence in the community – if SAPS followed up a week or two later to give them an update on their case and reassure them that they are working on it.

SAPS members should not be afraid to report or deal with issues regarding other SAPS members, nor be victimized for internal political reasons. The chain of command needs to act with fairness, impartiality, and instill pride and diligence in their officers.

2. SAPS locality

SAPS staff should be rotated from local towns to avoid members being targeted or becoming “too comfortable” with criminals living in their vicinity. We understand this is problematic in rural towns like Barrydale because of distance and would like to engage in possible solutions.

3. SAPS station

The station gate should have an intercom that can be unlocked from a buzzer within the station or a pin code at the gate. There should be ample lighting and perhaps a camera so the officer on duty inside can see who is at the gate. The generator is often out of diesel and should be replaced with a 3kW lithium battery and solar panel.

4. SAPS vehicles

I believe the repair depot is in Bredasdorp when it could easily be in Swellendam instead. Why have Barrydale SAPS been stuck with only one vehicle for so long? What can be done to ensure repairs are timely?

5. Visible policing

Although patrols at night have increased, officers who don’t have a vehicle could walk Riebeek and the R62 during the day. This will instil confidence in SAPS (and keep them fit!) but also give officers a chance to engage with the community, along with being a visible deterrent to opportunists.

6. Holding cells

Holding cells should have a solid barrier between them and the church grounds to prevent the prisoners from sharing information before their court appearance.

7. Residents (and SAPS members) reporting crime in Smitsville

Residents (and SAPS members) are afraid to report criminals in Smitsville due to victimisation and lack of faith in SAPS procedures. This should be addressed with some form of anonymity and handled with extra care and attention. External drug squads should be given intel and asked to handle the three known drug houses as SAPS members are too close to the problem.

8. Search and detention

Search and detention should be a regular procedure – especially late at night. Criminals lurking in streets, loitering, or without any clear business, and known criminals out on parole or released from prison should be searched for drugs and weapons.

9. Mountain patrols

Mountain patrols should be on the SAPS schedule to assist with deterrence and clear out anyone making a home in the mountain, especially along known hiking trails. Another possibility would be to install cameras at strategic points which would make tracking easier. We understand the financial implications, however, as a community, we have the capacity to fund such endeavors. Municipality and empty plot owners should be engaged with regarding fencing off strategic areas to limit foot traffic and entry/exit routes for criminals.

10. The Gang of Problem Children

The gang of problem children (approximately 10 or more of them) is extremely difficult to deal with because SAPS members feel their hands are tied due to legislation and children’s acts which prohibit them from being arrested. The children know this and are aware that there are zero consequences to their actions. There are specific individuals who instigate younger ones that have been identified. There are legal plans and steps underway to deal with this issue; however, we cannot make it public at this stage. SAPS officers need to treat this gang with more intensity and severity.

11. Roadblocks and Searches

Roadblocks and searches need to be implemented to seize drugs and weapons.

Requests:

1. We request a full public report regarding the Zembi case. Why was the perpetrator released without bail which allowed him to return and intimidate witnesses, put himself at risk of vigilante justice – and why was the case dismissed? It is our understanding that within a month or so he was a free man after having committed murder. We would like to mitigate rumours, as this feeds into the anxiety of the community at large, emboldens violent criminals and paints SAPS in a very bad light, as it does the justice system in Swellendam.
2. We request crime statistics for Barrydale, Smitsville, and surrounding farms from 2018 to date. This will assist us (and SAPS staff) to have a greater understanding of where, when, and how crimes are committed – and that information will greatly assist us as an NHW and SAPS themselves in targeting criminals and “hotspots”, along with trends. We would also like census reports which will give us a much clearer view of the situation.
3. We would like a full statistical report of the number of cases on a monthly basis, conviction rates, and unresolved and closed cases for the past three years.
4. We would like to know if the SAPS is addressing the two gangs, the three drug houses, the transport of drugs and weapons in and out of Barrydale, and the sale of stolen goods.
5. We would like to know what is being done with regards to the illegal erection of shacks on the municipal land known as the Gwarriekamp.

SAPS Working with the Barrydale NHW

We believe that joint operations and communications with SAPS and the Barrydale NHW will not only serve as a deterrent with regards to potential crime but will also instill greater confidence in SAPS members patrolling on their own, a sense of camaraderie, improve relations with the public, and foster pride in SAPS members.

1. We would like to improve our relationship with the SAPS so we can assist them as eyes, ears, backup, and a show of force. In order to do so, we need to improve our communications and our actions. Some suggestions are:
   

• A NHW radio in the station and/or in the SAPS van
• NHW booking in and out with SAPS, with a logbook and incident report
• Joint patrols
• Joint night operations (stealth or targeted)
• Patrols of farms and foot patrols in mountains
• Joint “show of force” (visible) patrols
• Assistance with roadblocks
• Assistance with search and detention
• Sharing of intel
  

2. Public relations and how the community perceives the SAPS need to be improved – both via diligence and professionalism and by regular communication.
   
   The two biggest problems facing the SAPS reputation is apathy by officers with regards to assisting the public laying charges and getting cases investigated, and communicating with the local community and updating them timeously both with regards to individual cases and the community at large, including general crime reports and other updates. The Barrydale NHW can assist with this via regular assimilation, sorting, reporting, and presentation of crime statistics, safety tips, reporting back on incidents, and more.

Perhaps a dedicated PR officer can be appointed by SAPS (until the CPF is functioning and that role is filled) to liaise with the NHW and the public.

3. Joint house visits to victims of more serious crime as a show of sympathy will foster more trust in the community.
4. Assistance with gaining improved SAPS resources and equipment can be achieved through the demands of the community and via the professionalism of the Barrydale NHW. Along with resources and equipment funded by ourselves and via the Afriforum network, we could be a formidable joint force. For example, if the NHW set up a control room for cameras set up in known exit and entry points along mountain ranges, radio communications, and a war room for intel and planning.
5. With improved training as first responders (search and detention, self-defense, securing crime scenes, basic medical aid, etc.), some NHW members can be an invaluable resource to the SAPS.
6. Joint communications and representation with Barrydale business owners.
7. Joint operations and teamwork with local law enforcement officers.
8. Identify and unite to tackle issues that are identified as municipal-related that can help mitigate crime.

Other Notes

We understand that the SAPS would prefer that we are registered as a NHW with DOCS; however, we do not feel that DOCS serves our purpose, especially with a dysfunctional CPF which is integral to a working DOCS NHW system.

Afriforum is “ground up” based, with resources that make sense to citizens actively involved in battling crime. We feel that DOCS is a “blanket” approach, whereas we require a more tailored approach that Afriforum caters to.

That is not to say we are completely against the idea of joining DOCS in the future should we deem it beneficial to us. If you have any questions or concerns with regard to this, please feel free to get in touch with any of our members listed below.

In Closure

We invite the heads of the SAPS and any other SAPS officers along with law enforcement, municipality and the traffic department to engage directly with the Barrydale NHW committee and its members to address the issues concerned as outlined in this document as a matter of extreme urgency.

Let’s work together on a solutions-based ethos.

Sincerely,

The Barrydale NHW team:

Chairman
Arthur Brigg
0826257178

Vice Chairman
Rene Butzer

Operations
Johan Knox

Communications
Rudi Pretorius

Secretary
Rod Rooke

www.bdnhw.co.za

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