The community of Stone haven in Ocean View has taken it upon themselves to make their neighbourhood safe and clean, starting with the clearing of a field used for criminal activities.
Robert Francke, a resident who lives opposite the field, says the final straw was when a friend was shot dead earlier this month.
“We have seen how people are dumping rubbish, the shootings taking place and people running through the field.
“Recently someone was shot dead, it was one of our friends. The people run through this bush and I live just here in the road. We’ve sat outside before while they throw stones from the bush.
“This is when we came together as a community and decided that we must make a plan about this field. This bush must be removed. Many agreed to the plan so we just decided we will chop down the trees. We are taking our community back.”
Using their own tools more than 20 community members started chopping away at trees in the field situated next to Jupiter Primary School.
“Last week Saturday we started on the dense bush.”
Francke says the fencing around the field was removed over several months last year.
“We don’t know who removed the fence, but we were told that the school would be fixing it. We want to keep our community neat and tidy at all times and this bush is dangerous for our children and the school children. We are more than prepared to help.”
Another resident said he wants the space to be safe for the neighbourhood children.
“There are people running around with guns through the bush and residents can’t see them when they walk past,” he said.
Gerald Daniels, a grandfather who joined the clean-up group, said residents are afraid to walk to the shop.
“You can’t see who is hiding here. And the gangsters misjudge who their enemies are and shoot innocent people walking by. It’s very dangerous. We are living in fear in our homes and community. I’m a grandfather to three grandchildren and they play in the street.
“Because gangsters shoot at any time of day, it is dangerous for children to play in this street. The children don’t want to play indoors, they want to be outside. We are very much on our nerves, every person must look over their shoulder nervously although you are not a gangster. We don’t want to live like this.”
The concerned grandfather said when children are taken to or fetched from school parents don’t know where it would be safe to walk.
“It’s very dangerous in this place. This field is the biggest problem because the gangsters sit in the bush and we don’t see them and it is so easy for them to rush out and hurt someone. We’ve also spoken to the school principal. The fence was stolen almost a year ago.
“The security at the school are themselves too afraid to come look because the bush is too dense. They only have a baton to walk with, not guns, so they are afraid. We are also too afraid to ask guys what they are doing in the bush.”
Resident Brendon Warren Kindo was driving past the group of men when he decided to assist.
“Initially there was a concern about all the criminal elements hanging out at the field. The fencing of the school was taken down and we don’t know by whom. “Since then there have been criminal elements in the field using it to smuggle drugs, throw people with stones, rob people and rival gangs use it to shoot each other.
“You can’t see who is in the bush because there is not enough lighting from the road. Two members of the community started chopping down the trees and we had a meeting with the ward councillor, but nothing could be done because the premises belongs to the school.
“So we had a fruitful meeting with the school principal where it was agreed that 20 people from the community would assist with cleaning up the field.”
Ward 61 councillor Simon Liell-Cock said the community is very concerned after the killing of a young man.
“The partially vacant piece of land belongs to Jupiter school, which is technically the Department of Education’s property. This land was covered by bush and garbage. I met with the residents of Stone Haven (previously known as Mountain View) on 3 February.
“A young man was violently shot and killed a few days prior. It is said by the community, the perpetrators ran into the bush.
“We met and discussed a plan of safety and this included having the bush and rubbish cleared on the vacant land to possibly prevent a potential fatality.
“The community was extremely anxious about the safety and asked if they could do some clearing on their own. The City collected the garbage and bush that was cleared.”
Liell-Cock added that he was at the site numerous times since the complaint and tragic incident occurred.
“Even though it is provincial land, the City’s green jobs department assisted the community in removing the cut vegetation and the solid waste department assisted in removing the illegal dumping or garbage and rubble.
“This was a beautiful collaboration of community and City after a tragic death.”
