Five arrested for robbery and unlicensed firearm in Westridge

Five suspects were recently arrested in connection with robberies and the possession of an unlicensed firearm in Westgate and Westridge.

Mitchell’s Plain SAPS Brigadier Brian Muller confirmed that two cases of robbery were reported in Westgate over the past four weeks.

Two men were arrested for a case of common robbery on Saturday, June 7 at 11.30pm in Broadway Circle, Westgate.

Another case involving an unlicensed firearm was reported on Friday, May 23 at 5.55am in the same area with no arrests in that matter.

In a separate incident, three men were arrested on Thursday, June 5, in a Jeep on New Eisleben Street, Westridge. They were found in possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Ridwaan Nero, co-ordinator of the Westgate Neighbourhood Watch, said robberies continue to be a concern in the area, with many occurring before 6pm.

“A firearm was recently found abandoned in the Broadway Circle, Westgate on Saturday, June 7, and a teenage boy was arrested; however, residents are most worried about hijackings and muggings,” he said.

A scheduled safety meeting in Westgate held to address these ongoing concerns proceeded without the attendance of any residents. On Saturday, June 14, only 12 people attended the meeting, all of them representatives from the Westridge sub-forum and the police.

Wayne Fisher, deputy chairperson of the Westridge sub-forum, who also helped organise the previous meeting on Monday May 24, said this was the second gathering in recent weeks. “At the first meeting we had a good community turnout, but no officials came. This time we had officials, but the community stayed away,” he said.

“We expected a full house, but there were fewer people. We will never win this fight if we keep complaining but don’t show up,” said Mr Nero.

Mr Fisher said criminals often monitor residents from the dunes in the area and wait for the right time to commit robberies.

Metro Police spokesperson Ruth Solomon said officers work closely with communities and value information provided by residents. “Officers welcome information about criminal activities as it will improve response time and lead to successful arrests."

The Westgate Neighbourhood Watch and Westgate residents have installed six surveillance cameras equipped with facial recognition, funded through community efforts. Mr Nero said the license plate recognition (LPR) system has already helped identify suspects in robbery cases.

“Other areas react fast because they have the technology. It works. But we need more support from the City and our councillors.” He also said funds are being allocated to parks, which are used as drug-dealing points.“We need that money for safety. Kids and innocent people must be kept safe. It’s not fair,” said Kamilah Arenz from the Cypress Neighbourhood Watch in Westgate.

“Westgate is a forgotten area, people are left to do their own thing because there’s a lack of services. We don’t see the City’s budget filtering down to our teams. These structures need support. We’re trying, but we can’t do it alone,” said Mr Fisher.

Mr Nero and Mr Fisher appealed to residents to support safety structures and fundraising efforts. “The camera rollout is costing money. We’re doing what we can. Now the community must show up too,” said Mr Nero.

Metro Police urged residents to report suspicious behavior by calling the City’s public emergency communication centre on 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or 107 from a landline, and to provide detailed information including time, address, and descriptions.