Crime continues to cast a shadow over Newcastle, especially in suburbs like Hutten Heights and Pioneer Park, which burglars increasingly target. This escalating issue prompts a critical inquiry into the severity of the crime wave and its evolution over the last decade.
Jan van Rensburg of Magenta Security, who also serves as the Chairperson for Sectors four and five of the Newcastle Community Policing Forum (CPF), paints a grim picture.
Since assuming leadership at Magenta Security in 2011 and engaging with the Newcastle CPF, van Rensburg has witnessed a staggering 100% surge in crime rates.
Moreover, Van Rensburg attributed this surge to significant societal shifts, remarking, “Our lifestyles have changed tremendously over the years. There has been an increase in unemployment and drug abuse in Newcastle has become extremely bad, both of which contribute to the increase in crime. Depending on the outcome of the upcoming elections, I believe things are potentially going to get worse.”
Adding to this, van Rensburg highlighted the lack of a robust policing presence and municipal by-laws as additional factors driving the rising crime trends. “People also don’t want to open cases anymore, because they don’t want to waste time in the courts and the suspect is released anyway,” he stressed.
Turning to crimes in suburbs like Hutten Heights and Pioneer Park, van Rensburg noted a troubling trend: an uptick in violent crimes involving increasingly younger offenders, some as young as 10.
“Most of the suspects we now apprehend are under the age of 20. In fact, when schools started again after the school holidays, we noted a slight decrease in burglaries in Sectors four and five. Also, burglars are armed now with weapons such as pangas and knives. They carry these weapons in case they need to use them, as they are desperate for money,” explained van Rensburg.
Sectors four and five, encompassing Aviary Hill, Hutten Heights, Pioneer Park, Signal Hill, and Schuinshoogte, face these challenges alongside issues such as petty crime and copper theft where streetlights are often targeted.
Despite the stark escalation in crime, van Rensburg expressed concern over the community’s growing resignation to this reality as though it were normal. He further emphasised the vital importance of community engagement and support in tackling this issue “We need the community’s support, as the CPF cannot do everything alone.”
He highlighted the critical need for community action in the upcoming weeks, particularly with the elections on the horizon and the potential for problems arising from their outcomes.
Understanding that South Africa is ranked as having the 3rd highest crime rate in the world, according to (World Population Review), is a bitter pill to swallow. Countries like Afghanistan and Honduras have lower crime rates than SA (just let that sink in for a minute).
It is a colossal problem that reflects the state of the country and merely hoping that the police can remedy this issue on their own, is a fairytale that cannot be entertained. As frustrating or stressful as it is, we all need to make a stand and do our part in pushing back, or else the problem, like most ignored problems, will only continue to escalate.
Get to know your neighbours and the people on your street. Form relationships with everyone around you. Create neighbourhood WhatsApp groups and pay attention to the activity in your area. Communication is key in this endeavour. Ensure you have a good relationship with your preferred security company and stay informed through mediums like Newcastillian News on what is transpiring in your world.
Additionally, residents in Sectors four and five keen on enhancing their suburb’s safety and engaging with the Newcastle CPF can reach out to Jan van Rensburg on 076 279 3422.
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