Mayor James Nxumalo has thanked residents of the Glebelands Community Residential Unit (CRU) for their co-operation in maintaining peace and stability in the area.
Calm has returned to the CRU after an intervention by Mayor Nxumalo and Premier Senzo Mchunu who brokered a peace deal between warring factions among residents last month.
As part of peace efforts, Mayor Nxumalo announced that the Municipality will invest an amount of R10million to improve safety and security at the CRU. Among other things, the Municipality will fence the entire CRU, install CCTV cameras, erect high-mast lighting and gates to control and monitor access in the area.
To date, street lighting has been completed and installation of six CCTV cameras has started. To improve safety in the area, Metro Police has ensured a 24-hour visibility by patrolling the vicinity of the CRU.
In order to keep records, about 2324 tenants have already been registered on the database and the Municipality has seen the bullying of other residents abate. Nxumalo has applauded tenants who have registered and encouraged registration of those who have not been able to register.
The City is partnering with the private sector, business and non-governmental organisations to improve social living conditions in the CRU.
To improve lives of those living in the Glebelands, the Municipality turned blocks which were predominantly occupied by single-sex/gender into Community Residential Units to restore people’s dignity. Units are now divided into bachelors to three bedroom units where residents can now stay with their families.
This project was introduced to ensure social integration and provide for decent quality of living.
Nxumalo urges Glebelands residents to continue to support intervention programmes that are being implemented by the Municipality and Provincial government.
