Were you at the community meeting? Stacy Moreland, Tamsin Green and Sarah Cohen report
On Saturday the 17 October a group of Rhodes journalism students, having completed their investigation of crime in Currie Park, Oatlands North and Somerset Heights, were ready to present their findings to the community. Having distributed 400 fliers advertising the event and hung posters in all three neighbourhoods a substantial turnout was hoped for. As 11am approached it became apparent that this was not to be – attendance was disappointing.
Those present expressed frustration at the evident apathy of their neighbours. A few criticised the isolated mentality of suburban living as a major obstacle to reducing crime. While researching their articles, sound slides and documentary the students had found that residents were highly preoccupied with the perceived failings of the police as well as fears for the safety of their families and property - yet few are willing to engage with these fears in a meaningful way. Sadly this perception was reinforced by the poor response to Saturday’s meeting.
Despite this Inspector Milanda Coetzer of the SAPS gave a very thorough presentation to those attending . Accompanied by Sergeant Gay Mackenzie (the newly appointed head of Sector Three) she responded to residents complaints concerning a lack of visible policing. To place crime in Somerset Heights, Oatlands North and Currie Park in relative perspective week by week statistics clearly revealed that, while the CBD and Grahamstown East experience high instances of serious and violent crimes, the three neighbourhoods in question often went without a single reported incident. Of course this may demonstrate a lack of faith in the justice system rather than the reality of crime in these communities. Those attending freely admitted that the only reason they felt compelled to report crime was because insurance required them to do so. They described the process of reporting as a frustrating one in which they spent hours at the police station dealing with an inefficient administrative system. Inspector Coetzer stressed that if residents don’t report crime more time and resources will not be devoted to policing their area as the crime prevention system focuses on ‘hotspots’ throughout the town.
Inspector Coetzer’s statistics also revealed a worrying trend. As wealthier suburbs increasingly rely on Hi-Tech to secure their homes criminals are choosing to risk confronting surprised civilians rather than a team of armed response guards. Homes are being targeted between six and nine at night when it is likely that the occupants are at home and alarms are deactivated, obviously at greater risk to their safety. Inspector Coetzer also reminded residents that the biggest concern for the broader area of Grahamstown West is the theft of laptops, a million rand of which has already been reported stolen this year.
In conclusion Inspector Coetzer stressed that she found students’ initiative very helpful as there are few forums in which the Grahamstown community can effectively air their concerns. She asked those listening to remember that the policemen and women of Grahamstown are members of the community too and their concern for the safety and security of Grahamstown should not be doubted.
Open places, scary spaces
In the early evening a group of teens can be seen leaving a house beside Oatland’s North Municipal Park. One boy turns away from the group, heading in the opposite direction; “Going for a walk?” his friend calls sarcastically. “Better take a knife!” yells another.
Oatland’s Park, referred to as ‘the valley’, is deserted. Like many open spaces in Somerset Heights, Oatlands North and Currie Park a skip seems randomly tossed onto the landscape where it leaks refuse broadly in every direction. No children play here and few dog-walkers stray from the tarred roads. “The skips definitely increase what I’d call the ‘criminal element’,” says Captain Jafta of the Grahamstown Police, “vagrants are drawn to the area and we definitely see an increase in petty theft”.
Open spaces should be spots of green tranquillity, injecting some fun into suburbia. Yet we are more concerned with protecting ourselves against what may stray from these eerie, unkempt places into our yards. “The fear of crime has a negative impact on quality of life at the individual, community and societal levels,” says the Human Sciences Research Council, “reducing the sense of trust and cohesion within communities, limiting people’s mobility and hastening retreat from public spaces”. Nicholas Davenport, who looks at the use of common land in Grahamstown in his Masters thesis, found that crime inhibits our involvement in our environment – preventing us from claiming parks and commons as part of our communities, often letting them become more neglected and crime-ridden.
Kim Weber of Pam Golding Grahamstown refers to the use of common land for waste disposal as “a nightmare”, saying that safety in this regard is the number one concern for potential home buyers. “The first thing they do is slap up a great big wall,” she says, adding that the additional costs of security could cut deep into a sellers asking price; “when people see an uncontrolled piece of land their fear of the unknown kicks in, and one of their first considerations will be how much they need to spend to make those worries go away.”
Mandisi Plinga, Makana Municipality’s Director of Community and Social Services, says that while he understands residents concerns “we must interrogate the root cause, not the symptom”. On one level he naturally refers to the socio-economic circumstances of criminals, but residents (and potential victims) must also share in the responsibility. He says; “the skips were put there for garden refuse, now we see that the people living near by put everything in, things that poor people will come looking for”.
Currently the police and the municipality liaise at a monthly meeting in which Plinga says he “is open to discussions to find solutions. However Captain Jafta says that while the police have approached the municipality about improving lighting in these areas little has changed. In the municipality’s defence; while Makana has been awarded a R90 million Development Partnership Grant by the National Treasury “this grant is specifically meant for township/rural development… to redress the imbalances that were left by apartheid” and the municipality is currently focusing on lighting Raglan Road and beyond. Meanwhile attempts to increase visibility in open spaces such as Sugar Loaf Hill by getting rid of scrub and trees at the borders of the suburbs have been stopped due to the threat of erosion.
Evidently reclaiming our open spaces will continue to be a difficult process. While the police and municipality continue to work together to secure the fate of these homes we are left asking; where are the residents?
Oatland’s Park, referred to as ‘the valley’, is deserted. Like many open spaces in Somerset Heights, Oatlands North and Currie Park a skip seems randomly tossed onto the landscape where it leaks refuse broadly in every direction. No children play here and few dog-walkers stray from the tarred roads. “The skips definitely increase what I’d call the ‘criminal element’,” says Captain Jafta of the Grahamstown Police, “vagrants are drawn to the area and we definitely see an increase in petty theft”.
Open spaces should be spots of green tranquillity, injecting some fun into suburbia. Yet we are more concerned with protecting ourselves against what may stray from these eerie, unkempt places into our yards. “The fear of crime has a negative impact on quality of life at the individual, community and societal levels,” says the Human Sciences Research Council, “reducing the sense of trust and cohesion within communities, limiting people’s mobility and hastening retreat from public spaces”. Nicholas Davenport, who looks at the use of common land in Grahamstown in his Masters thesis, found that crime inhibits our involvement in our environment – preventing us from claiming parks and commons as part of our communities, often letting them become more neglected and crime-ridden.
Kim Weber of Pam Golding Grahamstown refers to the use of common land for waste disposal as “a nightmare”, saying that safety in this regard is the number one concern for potential home buyers. “The first thing they do is slap up a great big wall,” she says, adding that the additional costs of security could cut deep into a sellers asking price; “when people see an uncontrolled piece of land their fear of the unknown kicks in, and one of their first considerations will be how much they need to spend to make those worries go away.”
Mandisi Plinga, Makana Municipality’s Director of Community and Social Services, says that while he understands residents concerns “we must interrogate the root cause, not the symptom”. On one level he naturally refers to the socio-economic circumstances of criminals, but residents (and potential victims) must also share in the responsibility. He says; “the skips were put there for garden refuse, now we see that the people living near by put everything in, things that poor people will come looking for”.
Currently the police and the municipality liaise at a monthly meeting in which Plinga says he “is open to discussions to find solutions. However Captain Jafta says that while the police have approached the municipality about improving lighting in these areas little has changed. In the municipality’s defence; while Makana has been awarded a R90 million Development Partnership Grant by the National Treasury “this grant is specifically meant for township/rural development… to redress the imbalances that were left by apartheid” and the municipality is currently focusing on lighting Raglan Road and beyond. Meanwhile attempts to increase visibility in open spaces such as Sugar Loaf Hill by getting rid of scrub and trees at the borders of the suburbs have been stopped due to the threat of erosion.
Evidently reclaiming our open spaces will continue to be a difficult process. While the police and municipality continue to work together to secure the fate of these homes we are left asking; where are the residents?
Vigilante Justice - the last resort?
Vigilante Justice - the last resort?
... Photos: Charli East, and Audio: Hlengiwe Kweyama
Having lost faith in the police and fearing for the safety of their families some members of the community adopt unusual means of protecting themselves. But do they feel any safer? Would they be able to 'pull the trigger'? A soundslide exploring the new lengths 'suburban cowboys' are willing to go to...
Policing in Peril
Trust has been broken, bridges are burnt and as for a solution? is there one? Stacy Moreland, Tamsin Green and Sarah Cohen investigate the damaged relationship between the community and local police.
On the subject of South African policing there is much to be said. Some communities praise their efficiency and the speed at which they appear in times of peril, but next door their neighbouring communities condemn them for being “useless” and understaffed and would rather call a private security company. Is there any hope of an improved channel of communication between Grahamstown communities and the police or was the divide set in stone many years ago?
The truth is, improvements have been made since 1994, when the South African Police Force was subject to an image make-over and became the South African Police Service. The name wasn’t the only article that was to change; the SAPS vowed to put aside gun practice for a while to become a more service orientated unit. From then on the police were trained to be community policemen. Captain Green of the Grahamstown police recalls how the police service strove to improve their image by changing the colour of police vehicles from a solid blue so that they didn’t come across as so ‘menacing’.
By changing their image, the police hoped to appear to the public as approachable and involved, but some residents in Somerset Heights and surrounding suburbs protest that they are still waiting to see that change arrive at their door. Neil Webb, a Grahamstownion living in Somerset Heights feels he has experienced the opposite of community service from the police “I want to be able to talk to them and for them to take my statement correctly, but they are very unapproachable” he reveals, adding that when he has called them on occasion “nothing happens. They just don’t arrive”. When it comes to solutions, he doesn’t have much faith in there being one. But how far does the service orientated approach to policing actually go?
Advocate Trish Armstrong, Chief of Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Police believes that if the community and police actively work together you can “really make an impact on crime”. Advocate Armstrong was a director responsible for operational workings between the police and public in Ekurhuleni, formerly know as East Rand, and she paints a different picture of where policing stops and where the community needs to step in. “Police do not attend to the social aspect of crime. They are a service, but not a social service” she reveals, “They cannot be your mother and your psychologist too”. Her solution for fighting crime is simply that the community should help the police in areas where they cannot help themselves. Her solution is rational in theory, but what the community needs to have proven is if it’s successful in practice.
“A community and police forum is the most important way to improve the relationship” says Inspector Milanda Coetzer, a Crime Intelligence Official in Grahamstown. The Community Police Forum in Grahamstown offers residents and police the opportunity to meet and discuss concerns as well as make suggestions, yet conflict exists surrounding whether the suggestions of the community are taken seriously enough to be put into action. Neil Webb, whose wife was in the forum for two years, expressed frustration that problems are brought up time and time again yet there is no follow-up, while Tariq Hayat of Curry Park has a conflicting opinion. Hayat is currently an active member in the police forum and sees there to be “no problems” concluding that “they do cooperate”.
Whether or not people disapprove of the SAPS, it is safe to say that they are a necessity. Lackluster communication has led to a fractured relationship between some of the citizens of Grahamstown and the local police and a middle ground must be established. Dave Robertson of Oatlands North sees a solution within the community itself and urges the community to communicate better with each other. “A lot of people don’t know who their neighbours are and the criminals are clever, they know this”, he says. Robertson believes that just having a good relationship with your neighbours is a step towards fighting and preventing crime, “It is a simple as phoning your neighbour if you hear his alarm going off or if you see someone suspicious in the area”. Captain Green backs up Robertson’s solution adding that the community should be “the eyes and ears” of the police.
While many of the residents in Somerset Heights and Oatland North are taking security into their own hands, they cannot ultimately fight crime with high walls and intimidating dogs. The police forum represents a practical middle ground where Grahamstown residents who are unsatisfied with police services can voice their opinions directly and where solutions can be born. The Community Service Centre of the Police Station houses also a suggestion box where anyone can bring forth their concerns. It would be a fine accomplishment for the relationship between police and public to go beyond reporting crime and move towards preventing crime together.
On the subject of South African policing there is much to be said. Some communities praise their efficiency and the speed at which they appear in times of peril, but next door their neighbouring communities condemn them for being “useless” and understaffed and would rather call a private security company. Is there any hope of an improved channel of communication between Grahamstown communities and the police or was the divide set in stone many years ago?
The truth is, improvements have been made since 1994, when the South African Police Force was subject to an image make-over and became the South African Police Service. The name wasn’t the only article that was to change; the SAPS vowed to put aside gun practice for a while to become a more service orientated unit. From then on the police were trained to be community policemen. Captain Green of the Grahamstown police recalls how the police service strove to improve their image by changing the colour of police vehicles from a solid blue so that they didn’t come across as so ‘menacing’.
By changing their image, the police hoped to appear to the public as approachable and involved, but some residents in Somerset Heights and surrounding suburbs protest that they are still waiting to see that change arrive at their door. Neil Webb, a Grahamstownion living in Somerset Heights feels he has experienced the opposite of community service from the police “I want to be able to talk to them and for them to take my statement correctly, but they are very unapproachable” he reveals, adding that when he has called them on occasion “nothing happens. They just don’t arrive”. When it comes to solutions, he doesn’t have much faith in there being one. But how far does the service orientated approach to policing actually go?
Advocate Trish Armstrong, Chief of Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Police believes that if the community and police actively work together you can “really make an impact on crime”. Advocate Armstrong was a director responsible for operational workings between the police and public in Ekurhuleni, formerly know as East Rand, and she paints a different picture of where policing stops and where the community needs to step in. “Police do not attend to the social aspect of crime. They are a service, but not a social service” she reveals, “They cannot be your mother and your psychologist too”. Her solution for fighting crime is simply that the community should help the police in areas where they cannot help themselves. Her solution is rational in theory, but what the community needs to have proven is if it’s successful in practice.
“A community and police forum is the most important way to improve the relationship” says Inspector Milanda Coetzer, a Crime Intelligence Official in Grahamstown. The Community Police Forum in Grahamstown offers residents and police the opportunity to meet and discuss concerns as well as make suggestions, yet conflict exists surrounding whether the suggestions of the community are taken seriously enough to be put into action. Neil Webb, whose wife was in the forum for two years, expressed frustration that problems are brought up time and time again yet there is no follow-up, while Tariq Hayat of Curry Park has a conflicting opinion. Hayat is currently an active member in the police forum and sees there to be “no problems” concluding that “they do cooperate”.
Whether or not people disapprove of the SAPS, it is safe to say that they are a necessity. Lackluster communication has led to a fractured relationship between some of the citizens of Grahamstown and the local police and a middle ground must be established. Dave Robertson of Oatlands North sees a solution within the community itself and urges the community to communicate better with each other. “A lot of people don’t know who their neighbours are and the criminals are clever, they know this”, he says. Robertson believes that just having a good relationship with your neighbours is a step towards fighting and preventing crime, “It is a simple as phoning your neighbour if you hear his alarm going off or if you see someone suspicious in the area”. Captain Green backs up Robertson’s solution adding that the community should be “the eyes and ears” of the police.
While many of the residents in Somerset Heights and Oatland North are taking security into their own hands, they cannot ultimately fight crime with high walls and intimidating dogs. The police forum represents a practical middle ground where Grahamstown residents who are unsatisfied with police services can voice their opinions directly and where solutions can be born. The Community Service Centre of the Police Station houses also a suggestion box where anyone can bring forth their concerns. It would be a fine accomplishment for the relationship between police and public to go beyond reporting crime and move towards preventing crime together.
Who's digging through your rubbish?
Have you ever wondered what their story is?
A child’s laugh echoes throughout the neighbourhood, a dog’s bark resounds, and feet pound on the warming tar as people take to their early morning fitness routines. A mangy dog gnaws at litter strewn across Templeton Drive in Somerset Heights, and the rusty off-white Toyota I am driving doesn’t quite fit into the scene. Piles of bulging black rubbish bags line the sides of the road, and continue to grow as gardeners and residents take to their working days.
I idle along, my skin taking in the morning sun, and in the shadows of the trees I see him. Hunched shoulders; a dark brown coat - Blending in to the shadows, it’s hard to tell if its cotton is brown or if nature has simply taken its toll. As I get closer the figure clutches a black plastic bag in one hand, he walks on with a lop-sided stride and a make-shift walking stick in the other hand. The car rev’s a little as I approach him and stop behind him; he does not flinch or look over his shoulder.
I watch for a bit.
His wrinkled hands untie bag after bag and he delves into the squalor, his paws no longer visible, his face immersed into the darkness of the plastic. He finds a milk carton, shakes its remains, pops the lid off, and tips his head back to quench his thirst. He flings the carton onto the road and continues his walk. As he walks along, I follow at a distance. At every stop, he puts something else into his bag.
Plastic cups.
Bread crusts.
A yogurt tub.
An old piece of cloth.
These wanderers who insist on helping themselves to what other’s deem as rubbish are nothing new to the neighborhoods of Grahamstown. They often cause irritation, disturbance and mess. “Nobody wants to do this to survive. I see them eating old food out of pure desperation,” says Mr. Webb from Oatlands North. Mr. Webb also expressed that although these “rubbish collectors” may not be criminals looking to steal goods, they may pass on valuable information to friends they talk to about the houses, the state of security and the people who live in these homes. “We only put our rubbish out after 11:30am when most of these wanderers have already gone past,” says Mr. Webb. Mr. Weaving, a Somerset Heights resident, said that his family experienced this problem for about a year before approaching the Makana Municipality. “We now wait for the rubbish truck and have organized for them to hoot and then we take our rubbish up; it normally works,” adds Mr. Weaving.
I step out into the warmth that summer brings and walk up to this rubbish collector. As I approach a cold feeling washes over me. A stranger and outsider to this area, but somewhere within me I still feel safe.
It doesn’t take me long and I am in full conversation with this old man. Rugged, dirty and carrying a heavy smell, Nkosi, 68, tells me about his life. Moving to Grahamstown with his mom at 19, Nkosi worked as a gardener. His mom got violently ill and he stopped work to look after her. She soon died and Nkosi felt lost. “I have no money, I have no food. This is my only means of survival,” he tells me in broken English. Nkosi explains that people often shout at him for digging in the rubbish and he can understand their fears. “I know I look like I am up to trouble, is it a crime to dig through rubbish?” Nkosi struggles to understand resident’s frustration and stresses he has no job, he has no family and this is all he knows.
Nkosi asks me if I would buy him a loaf of bread. I take him to Pick ‘n Pay, buy him milk and a loaf of bread and ask him if I could drop him at home. As I sit in the car, his reddened eyes gleaming back at me as he rips the loaf up and stuffs pieces into his mouth, I realize what I have just asked. “Madam, you can drop me anywhere – the streets of Grahamstown are my home.”
A child’s laugh echoes throughout the neighbourhood, a dog’s bark resounds, and feet pound on the warming tar as people take to their early morning fitness routines. A mangy dog gnaws at litter strewn across Templeton Drive in Somerset Heights, and the rusty off-white Toyota I am driving doesn’t quite fit into the scene. Piles of bulging black rubbish bags line the sides of the road, and continue to grow as gardeners and residents take to their working days.
I idle along, my skin taking in the morning sun, and in the shadows of the trees I see him. Hunched shoulders; a dark brown coat - Blending in to the shadows, it’s hard to tell if its cotton is brown or if nature has simply taken its toll. As I get closer the figure clutches a black plastic bag in one hand, he walks on with a lop-sided stride and a make-shift walking stick in the other hand. The car rev’s a little as I approach him and stop behind him; he does not flinch or look over his shoulder.
I watch for a bit.
His wrinkled hands untie bag after bag and he delves into the squalor, his paws no longer visible, his face immersed into the darkness of the plastic. He finds a milk carton, shakes its remains, pops the lid off, and tips his head back to quench his thirst. He flings the carton onto the road and continues his walk. As he walks along, I follow at a distance. At every stop, he puts something else into his bag.
Plastic cups.
Bread crusts.
A yogurt tub.
An old piece of cloth.
These wanderers who insist on helping themselves to what other’s deem as rubbish are nothing new to the neighborhoods of Grahamstown. They often cause irritation, disturbance and mess. “Nobody wants to do this to survive. I see them eating old food out of pure desperation,” says Mr. Webb from Oatlands North. Mr. Webb also expressed that although these “rubbish collectors” may not be criminals looking to steal goods, they may pass on valuable information to friends they talk to about the houses, the state of security and the people who live in these homes. “We only put our rubbish out after 11:30am when most of these wanderers have already gone past,” says Mr. Webb. Mr. Weaving, a Somerset Heights resident, said that his family experienced this problem for about a year before approaching the Makana Municipality. “We now wait for the rubbish truck and have organized for them to hoot and then we take our rubbish up; it normally works,” adds Mr. Weaving.
I step out into the warmth that summer brings and walk up to this rubbish collector. As I approach a cold feeling washes over me. A stranger and outsider to this area, but somewhere within me I still feel safe.
It doesn’t take me long and I am in full conversation with this old man. Rugged, dirty and carrying a heavy smell, Nkosi, 68, tells me about his life. Moving to Grahamstown with his mom at 19, Nkosi worked as a gardener. His mom got violently ill and he stopped work to look after her. She soon died and Nkosi felt lost. “I have no money, I have no food. This is my only means of survival,” he tells me in broken English. Nkosi explains that people often shout at him for digging in the rubbish and he can understand their fears. “I know I look like I am up to trouble, is it a crime to dig through rubbish?” Nkosi struggles to understand resident’s frustration and stresses he has no job, he has no family and this is all he knows.
Nkosi asks me if I would buy him a loaf of bread. I take him to Pick ‘n Pay, buy him milk and a loaf of bread and ask him if I could drop him at home. As I sit in the car, his reddened eyes gleaming back at me as he rips the loaf up and stuffs pieces into his mouth, I realize what I have just asked. “Madam, you can drop me anywhere – the streets of Grahamstown are my home.”
The Psychology of Fear
What happens when the fear of crime interrupts your daily life? Stacy Moreland, Tamsin Green and Sarah Cohen explore how fear affects residents and their families.
Maybe a curious shadow sweeps across the window. Maybe a peculiar noise echoes in the dark. At night our subconscious minds are left to wonder “What if?” while an endless newsreel of South Africa’s latest crime statistics plays relentlessly in our heads. Clearly how safe we are has nothing to do with how safe we feel.
Deon Bovey, has lived in Oatland’s North for two years, says; “this is modern life, a Neighbourhood Watch could work, but everyone keeps too much to themselves, that’s just the way it is”. We have retreated to our domestic fortresses where varying levels of paranoia incite us to build higher walls around our families, leaving our neighbours to do the same.
The need to insulate ourselves against a crime-caused fear has little to do with a reduction in actual criminal activity. The South African Stress and Health Survey found in 2008 that a third of our population will experience some form of violence in our lifetime. However Samantha Fox, who is currently completing her Masters in Counselling Psychology specialising in trauma counselling, says that we can all suffer from “vicarious victimisation”. We live immersed in negative media, horrifying statistics and gruesome images. In this environment empathy often makes us feel subconsciously victimised even when we ourselves are not the victims of crime. Without our knowledge we adopt a state of hyper-vigilance, ready to respond instinctively by ‘fight or flight’. Simply; we live in fear.
Neighbours Wayne Rathbone and Richard MacNally live metres apart, yet they adopt very different approaches to the fear of potential attack. But both are certain that they feel absolutely safe and secure. Evidently ‘safety’ is as much a state of mind as a reality.
The Rathbones adopt a free-spirited approach; “we’ve been known to go to sleep with our keys still in the outside of our front door”. The minor incidents of theft they’ve experienced they attribute to their own carelessness, such as the loss of a ladder left in the front yard or entry via a window left wide open to allow newly varnished floors to dry. “The location,” they say, “that’s where the real crime is”.
While the Rathbone’s relaxed attitude keeps them feeling secure Richard MacNally has reacted to threats by intruder-proofing his property, even throwing the odd firecracker to scare off “kids messing around”. The MacNallys feel safe because they are actively protecting themselves. “I manage our security here… we’ve been here for 6 years now and not one problem”.
Our homes should be places of refuge, where we can recuperate from the stresses beyond their walls. Yet despite our best attempts to protect ourselves we cannot always be successful. In June this year Ann Pott’s 17 year old daughter was mugged. In her wallet was her home address and (coincidentally?) since then their family home in Espin Drive has been targeted by criminals on numerous occasions. Random violent acts such as a brick thrown through window have left the family living in constant fear. “I think they have a personal vendetta against us,” says Ann. Her 13 year old daughter has become so traumatised by the constant fear that she cannot fall asleep without her mother watching over her every night.
Stress is a natural response – an evolutionary tool that gives us the adrenaline rush required to evade, fight and survive. But are bodies and minds cannot cope with constant stress and the repercussions of post-traumatic stress should not be underestimated. Samantha Fox says that while Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is fairly rare everyone experiences some of the symptoms of PTSD when faced with violence in their own homes. She likens the human memory to a cupboard; “when you have a traumatic experience, that memory is just thrown into the cupboard, you don’t have time to order and arrange it, parts might get lost”. The ‘lost parts’ of a traumatic experience often emerge as nightmares, flashbacks or intrusive thoughts. Every individual is different but difficulty concentrating, irritability, disturbed sleep and emotional ‘numbness’ my all be signs that a friend or family member is not coping with their traumatic experience.
When faced with a situation like this Samantha suggests that the most important thing is to “create an environment of social support - where adults can talk it out and children can play it out”. Parents should consider making a visible reassuring change to the security in or around their home. Children don’t necessarily need to feel that their house is impenetrable, but rather a sense of “that was then, this is now” which allows them to ‘let go’ of traumatic memories.
Clearly neighbours aren’t just the people who live on either side of us and home isn’t only behind our garden gate. ‘Living in fear’ is a phenomenon which shows that when crime touches one of us, it affects all of us.
Maybe a curious shadow sweeps across the window. Maybe a peculiar noise echoes in the dark. At night our subconscious minds are left to wonder “What if?” while an endless newsreel of South Africa’s latest crime statistics plays relentlessly in our heads. Clearly how safe we are has nothing to do with how safe we feel.
Deon Bovey, has lived in Oatland’s North for two years, says; “this is modern life, a Neighbourhood Watch could work, but everyone keeps too much to themselves, that’s just the way it is”. We have retreated to our domestic fortresses where varying levels of paranoia incite us to build higher walls around our families, leaving our neighbours to do the same.
The need to insulate ourselves against a crime-caused fear has little to do with a reduction in actual criminal activity. The South African Stress and Health Survey found in 2008 that a third of our population will experience some form of violence in our lifetime. However Samantha Fox, who is currently completing her Masters in Counselling Psychology specialising in trauma counselling, says that we can all suffer from “vicarious victimisation”. We live immersed in negative media, horrifying statistics and gruesome images. In this environment empathy often makes us feel subconsciously victimised even when we ourselves are not the victims of crime. Without our knowledge we adopt a state of hyper-vigilance, ready to respond instinctively by ‘fight or flight’. Simply; we live in fear.
Neighbours Wayne Rathbone and Richard MacNally live metres apart, yet they adopt very different approaches to the fear of potential attack. But both are certain that they feel absolutely safe and secure. Evidently ‘safety’ is as much a state of mind as a reality.
The Rathbones adopt a free-spirited approach; “we’ve been known to go to sleep with our keys still in the outside of our front door”. The minor incidents of theft they’ve experienced they attribute to their own carelessness, such as the loss of a ladder left in the front yard or entry via a window left wide open to allow newly varnished floors to dry. “The location,” they say, “that’s where the real crime is”.
While the Rathbone’s relaxed attitude keeps them feeling secure Richard MacNally has reacted to threats by intruder-proofing his property, even throwing the odd firecracker to scare off “kids messing around”. The MacNallys feel safe because they are actively protecting themselves. “I manage our security here… we’ve been here for 6 years now and not one problem”.
Our homes should be places of refuge, where we can recuperate from the stresses beyond their walls. Yet despite our best attempts to protect ourselves we cannot always be successful. In June this year Ann Pott’s 17 year old daughter was mugged. In her wallet was her home address and (coincidentally?) since then their family home in Espin Drive has been targeted by criminals on numerous occasions. Random violent acts such as a brick thrown through window have left the family living in constant fear. “I think they have a personal vendetta against us,” says Ann. Her 13 year old daughter has become so traumatised by the constant fear that she cannot fall asleep without her mother watching over her every night.
Stress is a natural response – an evolutionary tool that gives us the adrenaline rush required to evade, fight and survive. But are bodies and minds cannot cope with constant stress and the repercussions of post-traumatic stress should not be underestimated. Samantha Fox says that while Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is fairly rare everyone experiences some of the symptoms of PTSD when faced with violence in their own homes. She likens the human memory to a cupboard; “when you have a traumatic experience, that memory is just thrown into the cupboard, you don’t have time to order and arrange it, parts might get lost”. The ‘lost parts’ of a traumatic experience often emerge as nightmares, flashbacks or intrusive thoughts. Every individual is different but difficulty concentrating, irritability, disturbed sleep and emotional ‘numbness’ my all be signs that a friend or family member is not coping with their traumatic experience.
When faced with a situation like this Samantha suggests that the most important thing is to “create an environment of social support - where adults can talk it out and children can play it out”. Parents should consider making a visible reassuring change to the security in or around their home. Children don’t necessarily need to feel that their house is impenetrable, but rather a sense of “that was then, this is now” which allows them to ‘let go’ of traumatic memories.
Clearly neighbours aren’t just the people who live on either side of us and home isn’t only behind our garden gate. ‘Living in fear’ is a phenomenon which shows that when crime touches one of us, it affects all of us.
Lingani's Story
... Photos: Sam Dormehl & Audio: Simphiwe Kanityi
This soundslide takes a look at the "other side of the tracks" unknown to our relatively wealthy community. For the poor and unemployed crime is often the only option, but Lingani chooses to make an honest but informal living instead. This soundslide will alter perceptions and open minds.
Focus Group Audio Snippets
The focus group was held at Graeme College on the 25th of September discussing residents concerns over crime and policing in the area. Most questions were generated from the survey that group undertook in the weeek of 14-19 September.
You can listen to the discussion by following this link: http://journcrime.podbean.com
You can listen to the discussion by following this link: http://journcrime.podbean.com
Surburban Cowboys: How and why people feel the need to protect themselves and their families
A Preview of the Visual aspect of this audioslide.
Centralised upon self-protection, this audioslide will focus upon both the psychology of why people feel the need to arm themselves, as well as the practical aspect of what protection or weapons are used.
Also included are the photographs of a Police vehicle we found patrolling the Somerset Heights area.
First Focus Group Guideline
(explanation of what we are trying to achieve and what the point of conducting the focus group is.)
*If you do not feel comfortable answering any questions do not feel you have to*
Go around -
Introductions
How long have you lived in the area
Talk about things that came up in survey
OPEN PLACES
CONSTRUCTION SITES
RAILWAY LINE
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
GANGS
CARELESSNESS
SAFETY
FEELINGS TOWARDS POLICE IN GRAHAMSTOWN
BEST SOLUTIONS TO CRIME IN THESE AREAS
What do you think is important for us as journalists to focus on and cover in your area with regards to crime?
*If you do not feel comfortable answering any questions do not feel you have to*
Go around -
Introductions
How long have you lived in the area
Talk about things that came up in survey
OPEN PLACES
CONSTRUCTION SITES
RAILWAY LINE
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
GANGS
CARELESSNESS
SAFETY
FEELINGS TOWARDS POLICE IN GRAHAMSTOWN
BEST SOLUTIONS TO CRIME IN THESE AREAS
What do you think is important for us as journalists to focus on and cover in your area with regards to crime?
COMMUNITY CRIME IN SOMERSET HEIGHTS
In Somerset Heights
*1 felt that the level of crime in Somerset Heights was very worrying, while the 6 others tend to sway between it being a little worrying and somewhat worrying. Nobody thought there was nothing to worry about.
*5 felt that crime has increased since they have lived in the area and 2 felt that it was much the same. They mostly feel that the level of protection has stayed the same.
*6 of the 7 felt the need for more police patrolling while 1 felt fine with it staying the same.
*4 felt that there was no neighbourhood crime watch programmes, 2 said that they did not know and 1 said that there was a program.
*1 said that he/she did not feel safe at all in the neighbourhood while others felt somewhat to perfectly safe.
*4 felt that they had not been a victim of crime while living in the neighbourhood while 2 have a t least experience crime once a year with 1 saying more than once a year with housebreaking's. Washing getting stolen was mentioned here too.
*Violent crimes (housebreaking's) seem to be the most prevelant.
*Here people portect themselves more than the two other neighbourhoods. All 7 have alarm ssltems, 6 of the 7 own a dog, most have fncing or locks on the entry gates and 4 of the 7 own a gun.
*Only 1 does not feel safe at all going out in the neighbourhood at night while most feel somewhat safe.
*There seems to be conflict with where the causes of crime come from. Mixed feelings include opportunity, ineffective police service, lack of security and gangs.
*2 felt crimes are committed by juveniles, 1 could not seem to say and the rest felt both adults and juveniles were involved.
*To reduce crime there was the feeling for infrastructural improvement and increased police presence.
*All feel visible policing would reduce crime and main sources of crime are being careless, poverty and the lack of employment.
*Crime campaigns they feel would be helpful would be safety and security, workshops fr staff, house breaking and violent crimes.
*1 felt that the level of crime in Somerset Heights was very worrying, while the 6 others tend to sway between it being a little worrying and somewhat worrying. Nobody thought there was nothing to worry about.
*5 felt that crime has increased since they have lived in the area and 2 felt that it was much the same. They mostly feel that the level of protection has stayed the same.
*6 of the 7 felt the need for more police patrolling while 1 felt fine with it staying the same.
*4 felt that there was no neighbourhood crime watch programmes, 2 said that they did not know and 1 said that there was a program.
*1 said that he/she did not feel safe at all in the neighbourhood while others felt somewhat to perfectly safe.
*4 felt that they had not been a victim of crime while living in the neighbourhood while 2 have a t least experience crime once a year with 1 saying more than once a year with housebreaking's. Washing getting stolen was mentioned here too.
*Violent crimes (housebreaking's) seem to be the most prevelant.
*Here people portect themselves more than the two other neighbourhoods. All 7 have alarm ssltems, 6 of the 7 own a dog, most have fncing or locks on the entry gates and 4 of the 7 own a gun.
*Only 1 does not feel safe at all going out in the neighbourhood at night while most feel somewhat safe.
*There seems to be conflict with where the causes of crime come from. Mixed feelings include opportunity, ineffective police service, lack of security and gangs.
*2 felt crimes are committed by juveniles, 1 could not seem to say and the rest felt both adults and juveniles were involved.
*To reduce crime there was the feeling for infrastructural improvement and increased police presence.
*All feel visible policing would reduce crime and main sources of crime are being careless, poverty and the lack of employment.
*Crime campaigns they feel would be helpful would be safety and security, workshops fr staff, house breaking and violent crimes.
COMMUNITY CRIME IN OATLANDS NORTH
In Oatlands North
*1 found crime to be quite worrying of the 6 that were surveyed. 4 thought that it was a little worrying and 1 said that there was nothing to worry about.
*There are differing opinions - some say that crime has stayed the same while other feel it has increased since they have lived in the area.
*All but two seem to think that there need to be more police patrols in the area.
*3 said that they didn't know if there was a neighbourhood watch and 3 said that there was not a neighbourhood watch. Thus, none of them are involved in a neighbourhood watch group.
*2 felt perfectly safe in their neighbourhoods, 1 said not very safe and 3 expressed that they felt somewhat safe.
*2 said that they had never been a victim of crime while living in this neighbourhood. The remaining 4 felt that they had been victims and crimes included attempted robbery, motor car break ins, stolen good from the yard and one reported 4 house breaking's in the 18 years he had lived in the neighbourhood. Another reported that they experience crimes at least once a year.
*4 felt the crime prevalent in the neighbourhood was non-violent/white collar crime and two felt that it was violent crime and housebreaking's.
*All the people who filled in a survey claimed that they had attempted to protect themselves. They report locks on entry ways and high walls to be the most commonly used. Dog and alarm systems follow and 1 has a gun in his/her possession.
*4 felt somewhat safe in the neighbourhood at night, 1 felt perfectly safe and somebody else (the one who has electric fencing and a gun) felt that they did not feel safe.
*Again, poverty, lack of security and opportunity seem to be the main cause of crime with inaffective police servicing following this.
*The feel that juveniles commit most of the crime is apparent, although 2 felt that it was both juveniles and adults.
*Ideas of walled in neighbourhoods and infrastructural improvements stand out and the main sources of crime are said to stem from poverty, opportunist wonderersm theft, digging in black garbage bags and robery.
*All felt that there should be more police patrolling to decrease crime and that there should be a lot more visible patrols.
*The informants felt that crime prevention campaigns should include breakins, house hold crimes, gang activities, rapes, murders and assaults.
*1 found crime to be quite worrying of the 6 that were surveyed. 4 thought that it was a little worrying and 1 said that there was nothing to worry about.
*There are differing opinions - some say that crime has stayed the same while other feel it has increased since they have lived in the area.
*All but two seem to think that there need to be more police patrols in the area.
*3 said that they didn't know if there was a neighbourhood watch and 3 said that there was not a neighbourhood watch. Thus, none of them are involved in a neighbourhood watch group.
*2 felt perfectly safe in their neighbourhoods, 1 said not very safe and 3 expressed that they felt somewhat safe.
*2 said that they had never been a victim of crime while living in this neighbourhood. The remaining 4 felt that they had been victims and crimes included attempted robbery, motor car break ins, stolen good from the yard and one reported 4 house breaking's in the 18 years he had lived in the neighbourhood. Another reported that they experience crimes at least once a year.
*4 felt the crime prevalent in the neighbourhood was non-violent/white collar crime and two felt that it was violent crime and housebreaking's.
*All the people who filled in a survey claimed that they had attempted to protect themselves. They report locks on entry ways and high walls to be the most commonly used. Dog and alarm systems follow and 1 has a gun in his/her possession.
*4 felt somewhat safe in the neighbourhood at night, 1 felt perfectly safe and somebody else (the one who has electric fencing and a gun) felt that they did not feel safe.
*Again, poverty, lack of security and opportunity seem to be the main cause of crime with inaffective police servicing following this.
*The feel that juveniles commit most of the crime is apparent, although 2 felt that it was both juveniles and adults.
*Ideas of walled in neighbourhoods and infrastructural improvements stand out and the main sources of crime are said to stem from poverty, opportunist wonderersm theft, digging in black garbage bags and robery.
*All felt that there should be more police patrolling to decrease crime and that there should be a lot more visible patrols.
*The informants felt that crime prevention campaigns should include breakins, house hold crimes, gang activities, rapes, murders and assaults.
COMMUNITY CRIME IN CURRIE PARK
In Currie Park
*2 of the 4 people said that crime in their neighbourhood was nothing to worry about. 1 found it a little worrying, and another quite worrying.
* The general feeling based on the surveys is that crime has stayed the same throughout the time they have lived in the area.
*2 said they didn't know if there was a crime watch in the area. 2 said there was not.
*They felt somewhat or perfectly safe in their neighbourhood and only 1 reported they had been a victim of crime while living in the area.
*3 of the 4 said violent crime and housebreaking's were prevalent and there are conflicting opinions about how safe they felt going out in their neighbourhoods at night.
*2 of the 4 don't protect themselves from crime and 1 reported an alarms system, high walls and electric fencing. The other owns a gun, an alarm system and has cameras.
*Poverty, opportunity and lack of security are said to be the main reasons for the crimes.
*3 of the 4 feel crimes are committed by juveniles. 1 feels by both adults and juveniles.
*Feel the main sources of crime is the nearby township and poverty.
*In order to decrease crime there is the feeling that there is a need for higher walls, electric fencing, neighbourhood watch and patrolling.
*Campaigns should be focused on robbery of clothing off washing lines, rape and murder and house breaking.
*2 of the 4 people said that crime in their neighbourhood was nothing to worry about. 1 found it a little worrying, and another quite worrying.
* The general feeling based on the surveys is that crime has stayed the same throughout the time they have lived in the area.
*2 said they didn't know if there was a crime watch in the area. 2 said there was not.
*They felt somewhat or perfectly safe in their neighbourhood and only 1 reported they had been a victim of crime while living in the area.
*3 of the 4 said violent crime and housebreaking's were prevalent and there are conflicting opinions about how safe they felt going out in their neighbourhoods at night.
*2 of the 4 don't protect themselves from crime and 1 reported an alarms system, high walls and electric fencing. The other owns a gun, an alarm system and has cameras.
*Poverty, opportunity and lack of security are said to be the main reasons for the crimes.
*3 of the 4 feel crimes are committed by juveniles. 1 feels by both adults and juveniles.
*Feel the main sources of crime is the nearby township and poverty.
*In order to decrease crime there is the feeling that there is a need for higher walls, electric fencing, neighbourhood watch and patrolling.
*Campaigns should be focused on robbery of clothing off washing lines, rape and murder and house breaking.
Oatlands North Incomes
By looking at these results we can see that the area is middle class - there are people from all categories featured throughout the three areas.
Community Crime Survey
Our group conducted "Commnunity Crime Surveys" within the three areas in an attempt to assess the nature of crime, and with the help of the community, produce projects that shall assist the neighbourhood in the prevention of crime.
17 surveys were filled out at the last count and split into basic information, demographic information and community crime.
The graphs that follow will show our findings.
Somerset Heights, Oatlands North, Currie Park
*CRITICAL MEDIA PRODUCTION
-Civic Journalism
-Focus is Crime
-Focus is in these three areas
Group Members - Details:
Supervisor: "Casper" Shalen Gajadhar
Anesu Chingono - g07c3879
Sam Dormehl - g07d2623
Tamsin Green - g07g2069
Sarah Cohen- g07c4740
Paul Harris - g07h0004
Leigh Raymond - g07r0208
Wendy Jili - g07j2197
Charli East - g07e1589
Simphiwe Kanityi - kanityi.s@gmail.com
Hlengiwe Kweyama - g07k2394
Stacy Moreland - g07m0135
Jennifer Rae - g07r1682
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