By Buziwe Nocuze
Crime-plagued residents have welcomed a new police station in Phillipi Brown’s Far – one of the most dangerous areas in Cape Town.
Ward councillor Melikhaya Gadeni hopes the new station, which opened on 2 August and is a satellite station under the Nyanga SAPS, will make Philippi safer.
“I am so happy that we finally got the police station. Since 2020, we have been trying to get a police station or a satellite so that people can get help without spending money on transport,” Gadeni said.
Dumisani Qwebe, secretary of the Nyanga Community Policing Forum, said: “There were many complaints, and residents had every right to complain, but now that’s all in the past, and we have already seen changes.”
He said that a Shell garage, which was a hijacking hotspot, has seen less crime since the station opened.
“Every day, cars were hijacked or smashed in that area, but we have seen less of that since the satellite police station opened. Stop-and-searches were done, and a man known for selling drinks was arrested for selling drugs,” Qwebe added.
Resident Lukholo Nkuhlu, 45, said the station will reduce crime and save residents money on transport to other police stations.
“Getting help or reaching the police station was difficult for most people, especially those who didn’t have money to travel to other police stations. We will no longer have to worry about the transport costs to get to other police stations,” Nkuhlu said.
Another resident, who didn’t want to be named, hopes the station will reduce domestic violence.
“Many victims didn’t report the abusers because there was no police station, and they didn’t have money to go to other stations. Even the abusers, knowing there is a new police station around, will think twice before hurting their partners,” the resident said.
Pictured above: The Phillipi Brown’s Farm community in Cape Town is happy about the new satellite police station; their township is one of the most dangerous areas in Cape Town.
Source: Supplied
