By Anita Dangazele
- Nelson Mandela Bay is now the most violent city in South Africa, says crime data.
- DA marches for urgent crime action, warning that businesses and jobs are already under threat.
Freedom in Nelson Mandela Bay is being held hostage by crime, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said during a protest march on Monday.
The party marched to the Metro Police Station in Chatty, Gqeberha, to emphasise the crisis. Yusuf Cassim, DA Eastern Cape Provincial Chairperson, said criminals have turned the metro into a warzone.
“Violence is out of control, and our streets have become battlegrounds. Gangsters and criminals roam freely, while law-abiding citizens live in constant fear. Criminals are robbing us of the future that so many of our heroes fought and died to secure,” he said.
“We cannot celebrate freedom while our people are held to ransom by crime. The residents of Nelson Mandela Bay are not free, they are hostages,” Cassim added.
Nelson Mandela Bay is ranked as the most violent city in South Africa, with a murder rate of 70.8 per 100,000 people. It also ranks 14th on the Mexican Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice’s global list of the most violent cities.
Crime statistics show that violent crime, kidnappings, extortion and gang activities are major problems. Several Chinese and Pakistani nationals were kidnapped over the past year, and places of worship have been targeted by robbers during services. In one case, a visiting US pastor was kidnapped and held for ransom.
During the march, the DA handed a memorandum to a delegation from the municipality with crime-fighting solutions. These include:
- Filling key vacancies with qualified staff to improve policing and investigations.
- Supporting Neighbourhood Watch groups with funding, training and resources.
- Repairing and using the Metro’s Mobile Surveillance Vehicle to monitor hotspots.
- Rolling out ShotSpotter technology to respond faster to gunshots.
- Expanding CCTV networks across the city.
- Setting up a Joint Operations Centre to coordinate metro-wide security work.
- Partnering with private security and communities to boost response times using new technology like drones.
Denise van Huyssteen, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, said high crime levels are now chasing investors away.
“Extortion and the targeting of businesspeople through kidnappings have had a devastating impact on the province’s economic prospects as a result,” she said.
Van Huyssteen added that while poverty and unemployment fuel crime, poor policing is no excuse. She said police must send more resources to the metro or risk a complete loss of investor confidence.
Pictured above: Members of the Democratic Alliance marching against crime in Nelson Mandela Bay on Monday.
Image source: Supplied by DA EC Communications
