South Africans spend about R40 billion per annum on private security companies.

It has not made a difference.

The Executive Committee of the Marina Da Gama Association want to force us to add another R3 million a year to this figure.

It is time we look after our own safety and property. Get to know your neighbours. Get ALL the telephone numbers of each neighbour beside you, as well as the three directly across the road from you. Phone them if you see or hear anything untoward. Make sure that you have a list of emergency telephone numbers at your phone.

Keep your eyes and ears open. Don’t think that it cannot happen to you.

It is not going to help throwing more money at the problem by employing private security firms. We have to take charge ourselves.

Get personally involved by looking out for you neighbours. Be vigilant and get involved.

Let us stand together to fight the scurge of crime in our neighbourhood and in our country.

SOUTH AFRICAN CRIME STATISTICS FOR SERIOUS CRIME

FIRST SEMESTER (SIX MONTHS only) OF THE

2004/2005 to 2007/2008 FINANCIAL YEARS

[Courtesy: INSTITUTE FOR SECURITY STUDIES]

CRIME STATISTICS FOR SOUTH AFRICA (1994/1995 to 2003/2004)

as released by the:

Crime Information Analysis Centre – South African Police Service

FOR THE PERIOD APRIL to MARCH 1994/1995 to 2003/2004