The Oakdale Watch has issued a formal set of demands to authorities, calling for immediate intervention to address the prostitution crisis that has reached breaking point in the Bellville suburb.
Following months of deteriorating conditions that now see schoolchildren exposed to indecent behaviour on their daily walk home, community leaders have presented a three-point action plan they say is essential to restore safety and dignity to their neighbourhood.
The demands:
- Immediate visible policing from police and law enforcement in identified hotspots. The community is calling for a substantial increase in police presence in specific areas where prostitution activities are most concentrated, particularly during school hours and peak times when children are present.
- Stricter enforcement of existing by-laws against public indecency and solicitation. Residents want authorities to actively prosecute violations of the City of Cape Town’s Streets, Public Places and Prevention of Noise Nuisances By-law (2007), which already prohibits the activities taking place openly in their streets.
- Intervention from City and Provincial Government to dismantle criminal networks. The Watch is demanding higher-level intervention to tackle the organised criminal elements exploiting vulnerable women and systematically turning residential areas into red-light districts.
Yollanda Fritz, vice chair of the Oakdale Watch, emphasized that they’ve moved beyond asking nicely. These are now not requests anymore — these are demands for action that should have been taken months ago.
The formal demands come after the situation escalated dramatically from initial concerns raised in August. What began as community appeals for increased policing has evolved into a crisis where women stand half-naked on street corners, openly exposing themselves to passing schoolchildren.
“Our children walk home from primary school and are being flashed at by these women — it’s disgusting, it’s immoral, and it’s illegal,” Fritz explained.
“We’ve logged call after call, we’ve done our part as a community. But every day, it’s getting worse.”
The Watch’s demands put direct pressure on multiple levels of government to respond with concrete action rather than continued inaction. The community has made clear that without visible progress on these three fronts, they will escalate their campaign.
“We will not stay silent.
“Oakdale will continue to speak out until action is taken. We refuse to let our community become a dumping ground for criminal activity and moral decay,” Fritz concluded.
The formal presentation of demands represents a significant shift in the community’s approach, moving from appeals for help to specific requirements for action that authorities can no longer ignore.
Investigation
Police spokesperson, Sgt Wesley Twigg said this matter is before court and they’re is not in a position to comment at the moment.
“Once the court case has been finalised this office will be in a better position to comment,” said Twigg.
Wayne Dyason, spokesperson for law enforcement said they are aware of the challenges and will, together with other enforcement agencies, address the issue.
“Complaints of this nature must be logged with the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre by phoning 021 480 7700 with a detailed description of the incident(s). The South African Police Service is the leading crime prevention authority in these matters. The City consistently assists the police in all the joint operations we are invited to,” he said.
