Only 25 people attended a Kewtown public meeting on Thursday night to discuss crime.

Athlone Community Police Forum chairwoman Sharon Classen said the low attendance could be because the meeting, which was organised by the Kewtown Neighbourhood Watch, coincided with the State of the Nation Address.

Athlone police chief Colonel Junaid Alcock told the meeting that police had noticed the presence of rival gangs at the Athlone Stadium during the five weeks of minstrel choir performance there at the start of the year.

“We managed to calm the situation and told them that if they can’t be at peace, we would cancel the entire competition. They didn’t want that so together with the minstrels we sorted it out.”

Athlone had been relatively quiet, but new gangs were entering the area, and the sporadic shooting near Kewtown council flats was because drug turf had not yet been established, he said.

He encouraged residents to support the CPF and the Kewtown Neighbourhood Watch, but cautioned them, saying, “Don’t call us or bring the person to the station once you’ve beaten them to a pulp. As police, we have to get permission to enter people’s homes. Don’t beat up the people you are meant to serve. Criminals adjust their tactics so we do as well, but we can’t divulge that because they will know what our plan is.”

Car break-ins and thefts of cars and motorbikes in Gleemoor and Belgravia were up as was fighting at primary schools in the area, he said.

“Children can change and get away from the mindset of gangsterism... Children out here need help. Some moms still protect the wrong of their kids and have to deal with the consequences when they get older.”

A Kewtown resident, who asked not to be named as he feared for his safety, asked Colonel Alcock whether the area had enough police officers and vehicles. He added that many of the street lights were out.

“We need a satellite office in the centre of Athlone. Can you put in a request with the City for more Law Enforcement officers? People feel threatened when they report that’s why they don’t. They are targeted and feel threatened, they feel that they can't trust SAPS officers,” he said.

Athlone ward councillor Rashid Adams said crime should be reported, anonymously if necessary, to the police and not to him as that was not the role or responsibility of a ward councillor. Reporting crime was important, he added, for an accurate picture of the situation in the area.

He said many children were walking the streets during school hours and that should be addressed.

“So many people complain, but when it's time to show up, they don't,” he said.

Responding to the resident’s question about resources, Colonel Alcock said Athlone police station was “almost capacitated, but the precinct has grown”.

He added: “We do get Law Enforcement officers like we had a deployment to help us in December.

“A handful of people is hijacking Kewtown, putting fear in communities. Stand together. Step out and have a voice. In a group you make each other strong; even the weak feel strong. I want to break down the barriers and lock up the police officers who are corrupt. We want the community to trust SAPS. We need the community to give us information.”

Ms Classen said the CPF was the link between the community and the police, and she urged residents to play their part and inform the police about crime so that they could do their jobs.

“We can’t keep quiet anymore, then SAPS won’t be able to play their role. I find it concerning that only a few dedicated people are present, and Kewtown has so many residents. I appeal to residents to join the neighbourhood watch,” she said.

Athlone police chief Colonel Junaid Alcock with, from left, ward councillor Rashid Adams, Athlone CPF chairwoman Sharon Classen and Kewtown Neighbourhood Watch chairman Byron Davids.

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Poor turnout at Kewtown crime meeting