Tongaat and Verulam are quickly becoming crime and murder hotspots with almost every weekend unearthing decomposing bodies, and sounds of gunfire signal the next murder in the townships north of Durban.
In the second and third quarter reports of the national SAPS Crime Statistics, Verulam was named among the top 30 police station with a reportedly high murder rate. The station has also seen an increase in contact crime.During the month of March a number of lifeless bodies, home invasions, taxi related violence and rape cases were reported in Tongaat and Verulam.
On Sunday, 3 April, the body of a man, believed to be in his 20s, was found along Oakford Road in Osindisweni, just outside Verulam. His body was riddled with bullets.
On the same day, a taxi owner, believed to be from Osindisweni, was also gunned down on Wick Street in the Verulam CBD. Private security company, Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) responded to both incidents.
RUSA Spokesperson, Prem Balram said: “The discovery of the man along Oakford Road was made by a female who was known to the deceased. She informed his family of the discovery and then contacted RUSA.”
He said RUSA members arrived at the location provided and shortly thereafter found the male in overgrown vegetation next to the road. “Upon examination, he was found to have sustained gunshot wounds to his head, left arm and chest. He showed no signs of life and was pronounced deceased by paramedics. Two spent 9mm cartridges were recovered approximately 10 meters away from his body. The motive for the murder has not been established,” added Balram.
In the case of the assassinated taxi owner, Balram said Reaction Officers responded to the Verulam CBD after hearing rapid gunfire in the vicinity of the bus rank. He said while the officers were attempting to locate the scene of the shooting, they were routed back to RUSA Headquarters.
“On arrival paramedics discovered a body in the passenger seat. He was shot multiple times and was declared deceased. The male who drove the bullet riddled taxi stated that the taxi boss was seated alone in his vehicle at the bus rank when three men with high calibre rifles walked up to him and opened fire. He ran to the deceased’s aid however the suspects opened fire in his direction. The assassins fled in a silver VW Polo (registration unknown) that was parked on the R102 behind the bus rank.”
Balram said the man thereafter proceeded to the vehicle and noticed the owner slumped in the driver’s seat. “He moved him over to the passenger side and drove him to RUSA offices with the hope that he was still alive. Several high caliber spent cartridges were recovered in the taxi. The motive for the shooting is believed to be related to ongoing taxi violence.”
Providing an overview of crime in Tongaat and Verulam, Balram said the rate has increased drastically. He said: “We have noticed that over the years crime, including murder, robberies, drive-by shootings and rape have increased. The crimes have also become more brutal. Victims are being shot in the face and bodies are being mutilated. Suspects have also started attacking in broad daylight and seem to have no fear.”
Balram said when one notices suspicious activity they need to report it to the police or private security companies immediately. “We have noticed that witnesses spot suspicious activity before the crime is committed however it is not reported immediately.”
Provincial SAPS spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala, said generally there has been an increase in rapes, home invasions, murders and a few isolated cases of taxi violence.
“Taxi violence murder dockets are investigated by the taxi task team. Regarding home invasions, we have a task team at the station where our detectives work closely with crime intelligence and their informers and we do make arrests in this regard. Regarding rape cases, dockets are investigated by our Family Violence And Sexual Offences Unit where in most cases the perpetrators are arrested since they are known to the victims,” said Lt-Col Gwala.
An anonymous resident of Verulam (Dan) described living among this sort of crime on a daily basis as “dehumanising.” He said: “It is as if we have returned to the age where it is a fight for survival and only the fittest can walk without fear. The acts we see committed almost daily seem to be growing more uncivilised and downright barbaric, presenting a challenge to the laws and ethics that govern modern society.”
As crime escalates Dan said he is becoming more concerns of his family’s safety: “Our inherent belief that, ‘It won’t happen to me’ is excessively disadvantageous. With the frequency at which these crimes are occurring, we need to retrain our minds to be more open to the possibility that we may become victims. We need to always let someone know where we are and what we are doing so that any unexplained absence or abnormal responses and behaviours prompt our loved ones to check up on us.”
To report crime in Tongaat, contact the police station on 032-944-9900. Verulam residents can reach the police on 032-541-5200. Alternatively contact CrimeStop on 086-001-0111.
