A gangetjie in 47th Street in Connaught Estate has residents and school children fearing for their safety due to it being a hotspot for crime.
Greg Castle, chairperson of the street committee, says the alley has been an issue for years and school children are being robbed on a daily basis.
“We are seeking an immediate solution to it, I suggested we put up steel gates and make it secure because we have neighbourhood watch members staying on both sides of the alley, so we can control it for the kids to come through and have it locked up at night and during the day, but then we were told it is council property,” Castle said.
“In the beginning, our members were patrolling but we were shot at on four different occasions.
“These elements are standing in the alley, so there is always an escape route for them.”
A concerned ouma, who asked not to be named for her safety, said her grandson was robbed of his cellphone while on his way home from school last Friday.
“They choked him from behind and kept the knife against his neck. They took his phone but thank God he wasn’t hurt, he is so traumatised and now he takes a longer route but it’s safer.”
Rob Quintas, the City of Cape Town’s Mayco member for Urban Mobility, says it’s possible to have the gangetjie closed for safety reasons.
“This is possible, the community is advised to request the alleyway closure via their Sub-council who will then engage with the City’s Property Management Department who is responsible for the process.
“Any such proposal will require a public participation process to give residents and interested and affected parties an opportunity to submit comments,” Quintas explained.