A date for a silent protest against crime was agreed upon during a recent public meeting held in Idas Valley. The aim of the protest is to take a stand against robberies in the community.
This was according to Stephanie Heneke, an organiser of the meeting.
The public meeting was held on 31 August at the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Idas Valley and was attended by almost 100 people, stated Heneke.
The meeting was prompted by the community’s frustration regarding recent incidents of crime in the area, said Heneke.
Several incidents involving students and community members having been robbed were reported, which led to the decision of holding a silent protest against crimes, explained Haneke.
The protest is planned for 14:30 on 10 September, said Heneke. The protest is an awareness campaign against crime, according to Heneke. It will start on Old Helshoogte Road, at the Speelkring Park and community members will walk through the streets, she said.
“Idas Valley can be beautiful again, if the community stands together and parents stop protecting their children when they are in the wrong,” said Stephanie Heneke (pictured standing above), organiser of a public meeting about safety in the community of Idas Valley on 31 August. PHOTO: Tapiwanashe Zaranyika
‘The community is tired’
“The robberies and the thieves need to be stopped, and the protest will help because we know who the culprits are,” claimed Wilfred Pietersen, community member, at the meeting.
The crime hotspots are Moses Street, Hillside Village, Tindall Street and an area known as “the Ridge”, claimed Russel Adonis, chairperson of the meeting.
“The thieves are taking advantage of the people going to work early in the morning,” said Adonis.
“The community is tired and has had enough of the robberies, the thieves are now breaking into people’s homes,” said Heneke.
Principal inspector, Lisa Quluba for Law Enforcement in Stellenbosch confirmed that many of the crimes reported in Idas Valley were being committed by repeat offenders.
Recent crimes committed in Idas Valley were being committed by individuals whose identities are known to the community, claimed Russel Adonis (standing in the picture above), chairperson at the public meeting held at the African Methodist Episcopal Church, where community members agreed on a date for a silent protest against crime. PHOTO:Tapiwanashe Zaranyika
Stay alert
“Students are encouraged to always be alert when walking to campus from Idas Valley,” said Heneke.
The silent protest will be led by the organisers of the public meeting, with the help of SAPS to ensure that peace and order are maintained, said Adonis.
Stephanie Heneke, organiser of a recent public meeting about safety in Idas Valley encouraged members of the Idas Valley community to speak out and reach out to the Law Enforcement in Stellenbosch where they could assist in exposing suspected criminals. PHOTO: Tapiwanashe Zaranyika