- Evaton West residents are concerned over the spike in muggings next to a newly built police station.
- The police station was supposed to have been opened two years ago.
- According to a ward councillor, it was now set to be opened next month.
Evaton West residents have raised concerns following the rise in muggings next to a police station that was supposed to have been opened two years ago in Beverly Hills, Vereeniging.
According to the residents, the police station was completed in 2020 and the only activity they are seeing was the continuous cleaning of the station only.
A resident who spoke to News24 on condition of anonymity said: "Often at times, a police van comes to check up the security for 10 minutes and leaves, whereas in the afternoon people are getting mugged in front this police station quite often."
An employee at a nearby petrol station also expressed similar concerns regarding the on-going muggings and how it was scary for her to walk past the police station at 5:00 in the morning.
"I pass here around 05:00, going to work. It's so dark and you can’t see anyone. At times, you only see security guards patrolling with their torches inside the police station," she said.
Ward councillor Cedric David told News24 that, as far as he understood, the police station was set to open on 16 June.
"Out of the engagements we had with the MEC of Safety Faith Mazibuko, following a clean-up programme, there was an undertaking that the police station will be open on the 16th of June," he said.
David noted the concerns of the residents and said they were working on registering the patrol unit for the area.
"With regards to the area where people are getting mugged, there is a group of young women who gather during the week to clean up the area and the corners of the police station, trying to make sure that people are visible."
He also felt there had been no change to the date for the opening of the station.
News24 contacted Gauteng police spokesperson Dimakatso Sello on Friday, but she referred questions to the national police.
Special report | The Melkbos Monster: Unmasking a 'toddler rapist'
Comment was also sought from Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko's spokesperson on Tuesday about who confirmed the opening of the station in June. However, News24 was referred back to national SAPS.
News24 then contacted the Hawks' Colonel Robert Netshiunda who said he was out of the province and that the national police's Colonel Athlenda Mathe was best placed to respond.
Questions were sent to Mathe. However, four days later, she said she was still attending to them.
Never miss a story. Choose from our range of newsletters to get the news you want delivered straight to your inbox.