Enhancing Community Safety Intelligence in Sandbaai
In response to the escalating crime rate in Sandbaai, a concerted effort has been initiated to implement a robust Community Safety Intelligence (CSI) system. This initiative aims to address safety concerns by utilizing various strategies and community-driven approaches.
Crime in Sandbaai currently constitutes around 71% of the crime statistics in Hermanus. This increase is primarily attributed to the emergence of illegal squatters on municipal land known as Schulphoek, along with the frequent release of habitual offenders by our courts. Consequently, Sandbaai has effectively become a central hub supplying various kinds of criminals.
In just the last month of October 2023, five women were attacked—three on the Vos Coastal path and one in East End Street—all incidents occurring in broad daylight. Among the victims was a German tourist. In Sandbaai, Break-ins have become almost as familiar as a household name, akin to Eskom Loadshedding. One of the worst cases involved four break-ins over a period at the house of a single retired woman who narrowly escaped a band of intruders in the last break-in. All of this takes place under the absent oversight noses of the Hermanus police and Overstrand Law Enforcement, who primarily act after the incident, if available and/or willing.
To expedite the establishment of the CSI system and address the rising crime rates in Sandbaai without any delay, we are focusing on seven pivotal areas:
These key points emphasize the necessity of meticulous planning, stakeholder engagement, and the involvement of experienced third-party entities to streamline the initiation and implementation of the CSI system, thereby responding urgently to the pressing need for enhanced crime prevention measures in Sandbaai.
