Wynberg East residents gathered for an important public meeting on Thursday 28 September, calling attention to urgent matters relating to crime, traffic, policing, problem buildings, homelessness and the non-profit organisation (NPO) known as Step Up causing unintended health hazards in the area.
The meeting, at the Wynberg Civic Centre, was chaired by Ward 63 councillor Carmen Siebritz. She was accompanied by the Mayco member for community services and health, Patricia van der Ross and her energy counterpart, Beverley van Reenen.
Law enforcement problem building unit’s Senior Inspector Clinton Overmeyer was also in attendance.
Siebritz told People’s Post the meeting called focused mainly on Step Up, a project for TB/HIV Care.
According to her, the NPO has been operating on a Provincial Health Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for numerous years.
“In respect of Step Up, the City does not have a partnership with the organisation. The organisation has a signed MOU in place with the Western Cape Provincial Government. The message is clear, residents do not want the organisation operating in the ward.”
While the objective of the organisation is to prevent TB/HIV Aids by doing a needle exchange programme, Siebritz argues that their outcomes are not being achieved.
“Instead, the exact opposite is being achieved whereby we see people injecting themselves in open spaces, kids are being exposed to it and in general, it poses a major health risk because the needles are not properly and safely discarded in ways medical waste should be.”
Siebritz details that the needles, pink in colour, are found just about anywhere and everywhere on Wynberg East’s streets.
“Users are even seen sharing them. Whilst it’s reported by Step Up that a company named Geocentric assists with the clearing and discarding of the needles, this is only seen on the Main Road side of Wynberg and not on the East side,” she argues.
Van der Ross committed to engage the Western Cape Department of Health to ensure that Step Up operations cease by Tuesday 31 October.
In related issues, Siebritz added that Wynberg has been under siege in terms of cable and water meter theft. “This too was addressed by law enforcement and the police. The Hill at the Wynberg Public Transport Interchange (PTI), next to the Yusufiyah Masjied, was addressed too.”
She related that residents were of the opinion that the process of removing street people from the area should be treated with urgency.
“I reiterated to community members that Prasa are the custodians of the land and the City will act in an assistive role. I further explained that the City, more specifically Subcouncil 20, meets with Prasa regularly in order to keep abreast of progress with the application for eviction.”
Siebritz added that the City’s official for social development reported about two programmes that were started in the area, known as Women for Change and A Strengthening Families Programme, aimed specifically at informal settlements. In this case, Bonnytoun informal settlement.
“Overall, the community is asking for better and more communication with all relevant role players. I’ve informed residents that all ward committee meetings will now be open to the public as observers.
“I’m of the opinion that bringing the meetings to the people will give them peace of mind and even though only the elected committee officials are able to actively participate, it will create a sense of inclusivity and transparency, she concluded.
Yunus Karriem, the chair of the Wynberg East Civic Association (WECA), was asked about the meeting, to which he said: “My views of the meeting are mixed, both good and bad.
“Bad in the sense that it raised the general concerns of residents and showed the extent to which residents are fed-up at this point about the issues currently prevailing in Wynberg.”
He said it was “pretty apparent” in that the community experienced a number of issues that needed to be dealt with as a matter of urgency, “ranging from the crime, especially that has root causes” elsewhere, as he indicated being related to Step Up.
“It was also positive as it showed there is an interest in the affairs of the suburb by the residents and proved that community meetings, such as these, are more valuable than anything else.”
Karriem reiterated another positive being Van der Ross vowing to approach Step Up to leave the Wynberg area.
“From a civic perspective, we are looking forward to seeing the follow-up on all of these items, especially those committed to by the ward councillor and Mayco members,” Karriem concluded.
In reaction, TB HIV Care’s spokesperson Alison Best said they are committed to working together with the community to find a solution that works for everyone.
“TB HIV Care’s Step Up Project is committed to working together with the people of Wynberg to find a solution that works for everyone. Removing a service delivery project like Step Up will not decrease drug use or antisocial behaviour.
“In fact, in the absence of services, these issues are only likely to increase.”
