Residents of Theewaterskloof Municipality are fed-up.
This is one of the reasons the ratepayers’ associations started standing together and also one of the reasons a non-political organisation, the Grabouw People’s Organisation, was set up to look after the interests of residents.
Their first meeting was held Sunday 15 September. “This gathering evolved from a WhatsApp group that was created three months ago,” councillor Sammy Fredericks pointed out, “and its purpose was to address specific issues, noting that there would be efforts to prevent similar future engagements.”
Col Winston Coetzee of Grabouw Police Station and David Williams of the community policing forum provided a brief overview of crime trends. “There is a significant decrease in contact crimes, such as murder and robbery, which reflects a positive shift in crime patterns. The goal is to reduce crime rates further and foster a sense of safety within the community.”
Coetzee emphasised crime is a community issue requiring collective action to create safer environments. He highlighted a notable reduction of 58% in crime rates from previous levels.
Coetzee further pointed out that conflicts often escalated to violence due to a lack of conflict-resolution skills and the excessive availability of alcohol in the community. “Illegal liquor smuggling, driven by high unemployment rates, is a significant issue,” he said.
“Combating crime is a shared responsibility and creating safe areas is crucial. A strong partnership between the public and police is urgently needed to address crime in various towns.”
Williams also encouraged the community to support local efforts rather than being negative towards police officers.
“I urge the community to get involved in neighbourhood watches. There are three ways to participate: start a neighbourhood watch without formal registration; register through the Department of Community Service to receive R10 000 or affiliate with the police and CPF, though this does not provide funding.”
Cornelis van der Waal of the Grabouw Development Agency highlighted the opportunities available to young people, such as access to land and funding. “The current financial situation of the TKW office is dire, to the point where it struggles to cover salaries. It is disheartening to see the hall not at full capacity; communities need to unite. The office offers 14 skills workshops aimed at helping young people, and it has connections with various organisations for business referrals. There is a need to develop a comprehensive database to track and organise these skills. Creating opportunities for our youth is of cardinal importance.”
He also emphasised that young people often lacked motivation because they do not see a future for themselves. “It is vital for communities to apply pressure on the government to address these issues and create a more promising future for the youth.”
The ratepayers’ associations addressed issues related to politics and administration, noting that the situation had recently escalated.
A spokesperson for the association mentioned that a court order had been obtained against the council because, despite its official closing time being 15:30 they attempted to hold meetings at 16:00. As a result, all meetings scheduled up to 24 October were prohibited.
Grabouw People’s Organisation introduced itself and shared the origins of the NPC. They related how the initiative had begun with a WhatsApp group where members discussed their challenges. This led to their inviting those in the group to the KMP School to unite and support one another. They approached Elgin Grabouw Ratepayers and Residents Association for guidance on how to assist the community. “The GPO, registered as an NPC, is a civic organisation dedicated to representing those without a voice,” they explained. “We are standing united and are not aligned with any political party.”
