Crime zone

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - After holidaymakers were robbed of their cellphones and one of them was stabbed on Dias Beach, Mossel Bay, on 27 December, members of the public called for “high crime zone” warning signs to be put up in that area.

Members of the public posted their requests for signage on the Mossel Bay Advertiser Facebook page.

The Advertiser reported on the stabbing and robbery on its Facebook page and on its website on 29 December.

The victim, Francelle Botes, was stabbed twice and her wounds required stitches.

She, her 12-year-old daughter and her two 20-year-old nieces were looking for shells just after 05:00 on 27 December, when they were robbed by two men, Botes said.

Another robbery In another incident, at 08:15 on 30 December, a 54-year-old man was allegedly robbed of a cellphone by two people wielding pangas, near The Lofts apartments in Louis Fourie Road, according to police spokesperson Chris Spies.

No arrests have been made in connection with either of the incidents, he said.

In its article online on 29 December, the Advertiser published comment from Spies, saying Da Gamaskop Police Station officers, municipal law enforcement, Community in Blue volunteers and local security companies had intensified patrols along the beach following the incident.

Over the past 10 years, a number of people have been robbed on the beach below Louis Fourie Road and on the road, near the turnoff to Boland Park and near The Lofts.

Besides people on foot, cyclists have been targeted. Mossel Bay Advertiser has reported on these incidents extensively.

Man died

A Boland Park man (21) died of a fatal stab wound when he was robbed of his cellphone at the Beach Boulevard West and Louis Fourie Road intersection in June 2021.

Louis Fourie Road is classified as a provincial road, maintained by the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure, so this week the Advertiser asked the department if warning signs could be put up.

Spokesperson for the department, Jandré Bakker, responded in a media statement, noting that the request for "high crime zone" road signage will be referred to the appropriate channel, the Project Liaison Committee (PLC).

Bakker notes that this committee is for the current upgrade project taking place on Louis Fourie Road.

The committee is the link between the public and the project team and consists of a number of interested and affected parties which includes the local municipality.

This committee meets once a month and, among other things, any complaints, requests and suggestions are discussed and then tabled with the project team.

Bakker said the PLC can formally request signage for the duration of the roadworks project (temporary signage), but the signage request will also be referred to the chief directorate: Road Design for possible permanent signs on the completed road.

He said: "The permanent boards go through a much more rigorous investigation before they are approved. This would include asessing data on how many reported incidents there are per number of vehicles/ road users, so it is a much longer process."

Bakker points out: "A sign will not solve a challenge like unlawful/criminal behaviour. It may sensitise road users of a risk but only law enforcement will ensure that the root cause, the unlawful/criminal behaviour, is addressed."

He stresses that it is not only recreational road users including cyclists and pedestrians, that are at risk, but vulnerable road users who have no alternative but to walk, because they do not own vehicles.

"A board sensitising them of the risk may make them more vigilant, but it does not make it any safer for them to use the road," he pointed out.

Law enforcement

The root cause needs to be addressed by law enforcement, he reiterated.

Mossel Bay Municipality's Law Enforcement epartment has been patrolling the high crime area on Louis Fourie Road during the festive season.

The Advertiser asked the municipality if it would support the requests for signage.

It also asked the municipality what happened to a warning sign which was put up on Dias Beach a few years ago.

The municipality responded that shifting sand on the beach had covered the sign over time.

The municipality noted that the sign has been replaced and another one put up since the stabbing and robbery which took place on 27 December.

It noted in a statement: "The municipality regrets the incident at Dias Beach and is actively involved in the prevention of crime.

"The municipality’s crime prevention measures include increased co-operation with its community safety network, strengthening existing safety strategies including vehicle check points, CCTV monitoring and horse, quadbike and foot patrols and improved use of the K9 unit.

"The municipality circulated safety patrol schedules widely, using all available platforms, at the beginning of and during the holiday season. The inclusion of safety patrol schedules in beach signage may be considered in future."

The second cut, on the back of Francelle Botes' arm.
BELOW: Neighbourhood watch members patrol Dias Beach near the sign put up by the municipality. Photo: Linzetta Calitz