To: The Office of Ward Councillor, Schaapkraal. [Mr Elton Jansen]

CC: Also for the attention of Relevant City Department, e.g., Parks & Recreation, Public Safety, Sanitation.

From: Concerned Residents of Schaapkraal.

Date: 31 January 2026

PETITION FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION: SAFETY AND ENTRANCE PRESERVATION AT THE CNR OF BOUNDARY AND SCHAAP RD, SCHAAPKRAAL.

We, the undersigned residents and property owners of Schaapkraal urgently petition you, our elected representative, to take immediate and compelling action to address a critical and escalating issue at one of  the main entrances to our community.

A persistent and growing informal gathering of vagrants has established itself at the primary entrance road to our area, [Cnr of BOUNDARY and Schaap rd]. This situation poses a severe and multifaceted threat to our community’s safety, well-being, and property values, and we fear it is on the verge of spiralling into a permanent, unmanaged squatter camp.

Our specific and grave concerns are as follows:

1. Public Safety and Criminal Threat: The nature and positioning of this gathering are alarming. This spot serves as a natural vantage point, monitoring all comings and goings. We have serious concerns that it could be utilized as a lookout point for criminal elements to surveil residents, track daily routines, and act as spotters for law enforcement, thereby facilitating other illicit activities. This creates an environment of fear and vulnerability for all who must pass through this essential artery.

2. Direct Risk to Children and Families: This entrance is a non-negotiable route for our families, including children walking to school or bus stops. The presence of an unstable encampment directly on this path constitutes an unacceptable risk to their safety and peace of mind.

3. Health, Sanitation, and Environmental Degradation: The site is rapidly deteriorating into an unsightly and unsanitary dump. Accumulation of waste, debris, and human refuse is not only a public health hazard but is actively turning the gateway to our neighbourhood into an eyesore. This contradicts municipal health codes and undermines our pride in our community.

4. Economic and Property Value Erosion: Residents have invested significantly in their homes and properties with the expectation of a safe, improving neighbourhood. This entrenched problem at our very entrance directly threatens these investments, discourages potential buyers, and signals neglect, causing property values to stagnate or decline.

We have chosen to live in and invest in Schaaprkraal, and we pay our taxes with the expectation of fundamental municipal services, including the maintenance of public order, safety, and cleanliness in shared spaces.

Therefore, we formally demand that our Councillor, in collaboration with relevant city departments (Public Safety, Social Services, Sanitation, and By-Law Enforcement), take immediate and sustained action to:

· Permanently dismantle and clean up the unauthorized encampment at the main entrance to Schaapkraal.

· Increase regular patrols by law enforcement and municipal by-law officers in this specific area to prevent re-establishment.

· Coordinate with social service agencies to offer appropriate outreach and support to those individuals, addressing the human element while prioritizing community safety.

· Implement and enforce all relevant bylaws regarding loitering, trespassing, public nuisance, and sanitation at this location.

· Restore and regularly maintain the area to a clean, safe, and welcoming state befitting a community entrance.

· Provide a clear action plan and timeline to the community regarding the steps being taken to resolve this issue.

We seek a lasting solution, not a temporary dispersal. We urge you to act with the urgency and resolve this serious situation demands. Our community’s safety, health, and future prosperity depend on it.

We await your prompt response and a detailed plan of action.

Sincerely,

Zakariyah Philander [Concerned Schaapkraal resident]

Email: zphilander52@gmail.com