Africa-Press – Namibia. SOME residents of Brakwater, an area on the outskirts of Windhoek, have allegedly called for the introduction of a pass system for those working and entering the area.
This is to curb crime, which residents say is on the rise in the community.
City Police chief inspector Abraham Kanime says a meeting held with Brakwater residents recently had nothing to do with the pass issue. He says a pass system can only be introduced on private property, not public premises.
“The only concern was the crime and how to control it, but not to say there should be a pass. You cannot have a pass in a public place, only on private property, and it cannot only be for certain people of colour,” he says.
Long-time Brakwater resident Michaela Clayton says there has “unfortunately” been an increase in crime in the area.
“We were robbed and tied up years ago and the area has changed in terms of crimes. There is a genuine desire on the part of people that live here, not only white residents, for the police to do more of its work and be visible, because it is necessary.
But insisting on people to carry some form of passes is absolutely outrageous.”
There is freedom of movement in the country and people cannot be made to carry passes, she says.
“The primary motive behind it is that people are concerned about the increasing crime level and it’s not just white people,but everyone. There is a neighbourhood watch and patrol at night but there is no visibility of the police.”
It would be more helpful if the Namibian police and the City Police were more visible and present in the area, she says
“Due to large properties, it is also hard to see your neighbour and notify them easily when there’s a robbery. That’s the reality of the situation but people cannot embark on choices that are in conflict with human rights and law of the land,” Clayton says.
Asking to remain anonymous, another resident confirmed that there is a group of people who want to introduce a pass system“We do not have such a system, we are not doing anything like that because it’s not in accordance with the Namibian Constitution. But there is a group that is not registered with the police and they do what they want. They do not follow rules and regulations.”
This group wants to introduce a pass system at Brakwater North, the resident says.“I heard some people want to do it in that area and they call themselves Brakwater North district watch. They are not linked to Brakwater neighbourhood watch or the police. They do their own patrols.”
The Namibian was unable to reach any members of the Brakwater North district watch group.
On a Friday in August, four suspects, including two armed with pistols, broke into a house at a plot at Brakwater North at around 23h30, tying three victims up during the four-hour robbery.
According to the Namibian Police crime report, the suspects had enough time to cook themselves food, while loading the stolen property, including pistols, hunting rifles, and a shotgun, into a white double cab bakkie that was also stolen during the robbery.
The total value of the stolen items was reportedly N$555 000.
The stolen vehicle and some household items were later found dumped at Matsitsi Road at Goreangab.
No arrests have been made and police investigations continue.
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