Parks hijacked by criminals

All a group of New Lentegeur residents want is a soccer pitch, which they can use to divert youth from gangsterism and drugs.

This was the request from Rising Stars Soccer Club to Avron Plaatjies, councillor for Ward 76.

They met at Mr Plaatjies’s officer, at the sub-council chamber, in Lentegeur, on Thursday October 13.

“We are struggling to do something for the community,” said Gregory Willis, from the club.

He said since the club’s inception in 2007 they have moved from pillar to post in and around the area – from Honeysuckle Street, to Lentegeur Psychiatric Hospital and now being on a field bordered by Plumbago Crescent and Portaluca Street.

"It is a field in the area that we want to fix for our children,“ he said.

Mr Willis’s backyard opens on to the field, across which is the non-operational railway line and on the other side is New Woodlands. While there, the Plainsman witnessed men smuggling drugs and hiding it in the bushes.

Mr Willis said there have been success stories and there have been four fatal shootings in the area, some of whom were members of the club and had turned to drugs and gangsterism, when the club struggled financially and had to close its doors during the national Covid-19 lockdown.

Mr Willis said the field was being used as a thoroughfare for Woodlands residents to get to the Watergate shopping complex and public transport in AZ Berman Drive.

This is also where the City of Cape Town is due to build a New Lentegeur pedestrian bridge to provide a safe railway crossing and access to MyCiTi routes.

It is also boxed in by the Mitchell’s Plain electricity sub-station and while the Plainsman stood on the field there was a cable lying across the field.

The field is flanked by Heath park, which are being assessed for redevelopment.

Last month the club submitted a petition to Mr Plaatjies for help with the field.

Club chairman Shafiek Jamodien, from Macassar, said while he did not stay in the area he grew up there.

“My roots are there, our family home is there and my kids grew up there.

“I am a concerned ex-resident, actively helping and giving back to my community,” he said.

Mr Plaatjies acknowledged receipt of the petition and confirmed that the field belonged to the City.

He said that he last engaged with the community about four weeks ago, including Mr Jamodien.

“I have escalated these matters to Metro police and law enforcement as you have witnessed the residents said that Metro police did come out on numerous occasions to attend to the parks,” he said.

Mr Plaatjies said residents have asked to have the structures in Heath park demolished because criminal elements have hijacked their public space.

“Parks are hijacked for people to smoke drugs,” he said.

"I have submitted the request from the community to parks (department) and I have conducted a site inspection with parks to Heath park to assess the work,’’ he said.

Mr Plaatjies proposed that the community actively take ownership of the park.

He has prioritised the removal of the wall in the next financial year.

“I urge the community to actively report any crimes and complaints to the relevant officials and actively engage me on matters as I do have an open-door policy,” he said.