Westdene Residents object to the Melville 'Safe Streets' Initiative

Comments

#1

I support the sentiments expressed in this petition.

Elizabeth Ebersohn (Johannesburg, 2023-03-06)

#5

I don't want this

Gillian Anstey (Joburg, 2023-03-06)

#12

I object to the closure of streets within our neighborhoods.

Matthew Cook (Johannesburg , 2023-03-06)

#14

I think there must be a better way to address crime in our area.

Juliana Van Staden (Johannesburg, 2023-03-06)

#15

I am a long time resident of Wesdene and agree with all of the above.

Alan Jeffrey (Johannesburg, 2023-03-06)

#17

I agree with all the objections as compiled via a group discussion amongst residents. The rights of many many more will be negatively impacted by the implementation.

Joni van der Westhuizen (Johannesburg , 2023-03-06)

#19

I am a westdene resident and am concerned about the safety apect surrounding Westdene regarding tne safe streets of Melville proposal.

Michael Abrahams (Johannesburg, 2023-03-06)

#20

I agree with the reasons listed in the petition letter

Sharize Schaerer (Johannesburg, 2023-03-06)

#21

I am a resident of Westdene and I agree and stand by the above mentioned.

Zandile Mjoli (Johannesburg , 2023-03-06)

#23

Because I care 🌷

Chantal Guy (Johannesburg , 2023-03-06)

#26

I live in Westdene and this crime matter requires a city wide response and not a neighbourhood response to the exclusion of other neighbourhoods

Melinda Swift (Johannesburg, 2023-03-06)

#27

I drive through Melville every day of my life. Cutting me off from access to these streets will impact my life negatively, costing me time and money, and I don't believe that the problem will be solved by closing off the streets. I also doubt whether I will continue to support the Melville businesses if my access to them is restricted.

Lisa Pienaar (JOHANNESBURG, 2023-03-06)

#29

Westdene home owner since 2003

Mbuso Ngcongo (Johnnesburg, 2023-03-06)

#30

I live in Melville and I initially opposed the Safe Streets road closure plan on grounds similar to those expressed in this petition.

Simon Van Schalkwyk (Johannesburg, 2023-03-06)

#31

I am against roads being closed

Sally Young (Johannesburg , 2023-03-06)

#33

I'm signing because I cannot support a move that will further divide our already deeply divided society. The closing of streets or whole suburbs is a knee jerk reaction by privileged people that only seem to care about their own quality of life. To me they seem to think its OK to push out crime and homelessness etc to the next street/suburbs, just as long as it won't affect them. There must be other ways to increase safety in our hood and at the same time improve quality of life for everyone here.
Booms and road closures will in my opinion totally destroy the life and soul of our beloved neighbourhood. Most of us moved here for the diversity, the bohemian atmosphere etc. If you want to live in a gated community, maybe rather move to Eagle canyon or Steyn city instead of trying to turn Melville into a soulless copy of these places.
Thank you for your initiative to fight this and all the best, Gabi

Gabriele Hampel (Johannesburg , 2023-03-06)

#34

The proposed road closures will severly negatively impact traffic in the area, creating new traffic and road use problems in surrounding areas, as well as negatively impacting on all types of commuters. The proposed closure will also restrict access to businesses and schools within the closed off area, negatively impacting them as well as consumers and users.
Creating a safer suburb should begin with excluding the low life drinking holes on 7th street (and some on Main Street) not all the residents from surrounding areas.

Kathy Watson (Johannesburg, 2023-03-06)

#37

It means that we have to detour to get to certain areas around melville area

Albert Graham (Johannesburg, 2023-03-06)

#38

We utilise the roads in Melville that are part of the proposed closure to travel daily taking my children to school in Parktown and St John’s in Houghton. This initiative will impact travel time and fuel costs. Unacceptable.

Leila Donnelly (Johannesburg, 2023-03-06)

#41

The diversion of traffic will make the surrounding neighbourhoods congested.

Grant Baumann (Westdene , 2023-03-06)

#43

I want to be able to drive through melville

Craig Leppan (Johannesburg, 2023-03-06)

#44

Closing off these streets is totally unnecessary and disregards neighbouring communities

Phil Manners (Johannesburg , 2023-03-06)

#45

Gating Melville is an absolutely awful idea - please, please don't do it!

Luke Buckland (Johannesburg, 2023-03-06)

#46

I am signing because the issue of crime will not be solved by moving the problem around. Unless the problem of extreme inequality (which has a causational relationship to crime) and poverty is not dealt with at a systemic level, crime will continue. Throwing money at this problem without understanding the real causes will be equivalent to throwing money down the drain.
I am particularly concerned about the safety of pedestrians given the placing of very few pedestrian gates in places where pedestrians are extremely vulnerable to attack (near the Melville Koppies) as they are literally trapped in deserted places with no means of escape
I’d also like to emphasise that the collecting of personal information is extremely problematic in that a) it will be collected by a private company’s staff and b) protected (questionably) by the company’s staff.
My signing of this petition has one caveat: I would caution against pedestrianising parts of 4th Ave and 7th Street The needs of shoppers, restaurant patrons, pedestrians and motorists need to be carefully considered before making such a decision.

Kathy Brookes (Johannesburg , 2023-03-06)

#47

I do not agree with the initiative at all. It’s elitist and will exclude people transiting through . It will also put pressure on others routes for traffic. It’s a have / have not issue totally, reeks of privilege.

Bridget van Oerle (Johannesburg , 2023-03-06)

#48

I’m singing because being part of Westdene community, I believe the proposed solution for Melville will have an adverse affect on public, road we travel and restrict us from using our neighbourhood as free as it should be. There are better ways to tackle crime other than restrictions

Derek Cloete (Jhb, 2023-03-06)

#49

This will excerbate all the issues we have here.

Lieza Louw (Johannesburg, 2023-03-06)

#51

I agree with this petition

Peter Jaspan (Johannesburg , 2023-03-06)

#52

I strongly disagree with this initiative. As the petition says, the benefit of a few for the discomfort of many. Our streets are public property.

Linda Davis (Johannesburg, 2023-03-06)

#56

i live in Westdene and frequently travel through Melville.

Roela Hattingh (Johannesburg, 2023-03-06)

#57

I'm signing this because I live in Westdene close to Melville koppies. My daily route to Midrand for work is Arundel, Ayr, 4th Ave over 7th Ave until I get to Jan Smuts and take M1. The option to use Empire will be a nightmare due to traffic congestion, time and cost to say the least. Friday evenings and weekends I enjoy spending time in Melville. Closing roads will be the worst idea ever! I agree with the Petion 100% and propose also adding more visible security in the streets and even cameras to catch these criminals.

Rene Peres de abreu (Johannesburg, 2023-03-06)

#59

I understand the closing of a street or two but to close the entire suburb will be a logistical and overcrowding nightmare to the suburbs next to Melville that will have to foot the extra traffic.

Robert Vorstman (Westdene, 2023-03-06)

#61

Safety

Christo Wolvaardt (Johannesburg, 2023-03-06)

#66

This proposal is shortsighted and makes life harder for the lower income residents of the areaand divides our city, alternatives mentioned to refocus the spend on enhancing security around 7th avenue and making it a pedestrian zone makes a lot more egalitarian sense.

Tania Steenkamp (Johannesburg, 2023-03-06)

#68

Closing of Melville would be illegal and hugely inconvenient and would not solve the crime

Jana Pechova (Westdene , 2023-03-06)

#69

I'm signing for all the reasons mentioned above

Barbara Macdonald (Johannesburg, 2023-03-06)

#70

I agree with the above

Carmen Brydges (Westdene, 2023-03-06)

#73

I object to the negative impact the proposed road closures will have on my daily life, as well as those of my fellow residents. Melville is not an isolated enclave. It is a thoroughfare for many of us, centrally located, connecting multiple suburbs. As it is, surrounding roads are not capable of carrying the traffic they currently carry. Closing off the multiple connecting roads I and others use on a daily basis will without doubt impact on our quality of life. I further object to the elitist, classist and racist principles that ultimately underlie gated communities, even more so because research does not support their efficacy to deter crime. The taxes I pay to upkeep public roads and infrastructure must also ensure that I have free and unobstructed access to this infrastructure - gated communities, however, undemocratically reserves this infrastructure for a select few. The reality is further that gated communities ultimately lead to the stagnation of communities. They have not been shown to encourage growth and communal prosperity. I believe they will ultimately lead to the death of the well-established and historical Melville business district, the ripple effects of which will be felt well beyond the "borders" of Melville.

Ilse Fouche (Westdene , 2023-03-06)

#74

I oppose to the idea of closing off the whole of a suburb, as well from a traffic perspective as moving the issue of criminality to other, surrounding areas, as to the suburb I live in, Westdene.

Arjan van 't Zelfde (Johannesburg, 2023-03-06)

#75

It will affect our family. We travel through Melville daily on our school run. It will cause traffic congestion in the adjacent areas. It also impinges on my personal freedom. The crime that it is trying to prevent will also just move to the next suburb, which in my case is Brixton.

Nico Kruger (Johannesburg, 2023-03-07)

#77

The plan is exclusionary. We need more people on the streets to make them safer, not less!

Alison Wilson (Johannesburg, 2023-03-07)

#78

As a resident of Brixton I don't support closing off of suburbs restricting access. This only exacerbates systemic inequality that is one of the root causes of crime. It is a short term and unsustainable solution.

Mark Schaerer (Johannesburg, 2023-03-07)

#79

I fully agree with the motivation of this petition

Marie Huchzermeyer (Johannesburg, 2023-03-07)

#81

This is a selfish initiative that will not curb crime but merely serve the restaurant owners and residents of Melville, not the city. It will negatively impact westdene residents who traverse thru Melville. Perhaps they shld have considered fighting crime years ago when it actually became evident that it is a problem. Why shld other suburbs suffer for their complacency?

Byrne Keanly (Gauteng, 2023-03-07)

#82

I live in Brixton and believe this will have an exclusionary effect, limiting public space, isolating citizens from an important multiracial cultural hub in the city and disproportionately impact workers. I am also skeptical of it's effectiveness as an anti crime measure. In isolating Melville I believe it will simply push crime into neighbouring areas, and inflame it through heightened social polarisation. When I first came to Johannesburg I felt Melville was an incredible example of the kind of open and diverse neighborhood that was possible for the city and would be saddened to see that possibility extinguished. I understand the concern around crime but believe there are more inclusive and effective means of tackling this problem. In it's denial of free passage through the city, I believe this plan speaks to the worst legacies of South African history and would feel ashamed to see it come to define an area I know and love.

Jo Marshall (Johannesburg, 2023-03-07)

#83

I believe your petition make sense in including everyone and keeping the true character of Melville and surrounding suburbs.

Dieter Trumpelmann (Johannesburg, 2023-03-07)

#84

I am an urban development professional. My argument against road closures is that they turn public city level assets into exclusive use assets.

A functional and inclusionary city relies on an accessible network of connectivity, both spatial and aspatial. Reducing thoroughfares through the city serves to breakdown such functionality. This connectivity is not measured by the city quantitatively, but the qualitative value is reflected in the property values and desirability of the neighbourhood.

Road closures infringe on an individual's rights to exercise choice in the experience of the city, and freedom of movement through what is public space. Melville's character is distinctive and remarkable due to openess and accessible high streets that are public city assets. Closing these high streets into barriered access is not unlike the principle of shopping malls whose private owners reserve rights of admission to only certain income level patrons.

The taxes paid by residents of the city contribute to the maintenance of all the cities infrastructure and the public should have access to that which they pay for. The property rates+ taxes collected from Melville (or any other township) residents are not directed to reinvestment in Melville only. Exclusive use rights simply should not be vested on public funded infrastructure, in general, not only in this case of Melville.

Diane Arvanitakis (Johannesburg, 2023-03-07)

#89

I live in 9th Ave Melville and have always opposed the scheme. I totally agree with the viewpoint and arguments of this petition.

Liz Gunner (Johannesburg, 2023-03-07)

#91

Closing off suburbs is not the answer to mitigate crime
This will affect me as a neighbouring resident negatively

Friedrich Wilsenach (Johannesburg, 2023-03-07)

#92

As a resident of Westdene, I agree wholeheartedly with the concerns raised.

Ben Algrain (Johannesburg, 2023-03-07)

#93

I'm signing because I agree with the concerns raised in this petition. I strongly urge Safe Streets to consider alternate plans for the betterment and safety of their area, surrounding areas and as a commitment to an inclusive society.

Danieyella Rodin (Johannesburg, 2023-03-07)

#94

I am signing because I always lived in Westdene and I always travel through Melville. This will be a traffic issue now.

Dina Dadswell (Westdene , 2023-03-07)

#95

I support the reasons stated

Andre Dellow (Johannesburg , 2023-03-07)

#99

Traffic will be disastrous for us driving through Melville on a daily basis

Hendrik Pretorius (Westdene, 2023-03-07)

#100

The permanent closure of the road on motor street Westdene will disrupt access to the dam.
It will also disrupt access to Emzeni, which is the first successful business run on that corner in years and considerably adds to the safety of that corner.

It will prevent the litter pickers from accessing one of their sources of recyclables which is important for their income.

This is a student area which means controlled access to the area will not be feasible because there is a high turnover of renters making management of access impossible. Similarly, temporary renters will be unlikely to pay for the installation and upkeep of this project.

Emma Cleminson (JHB, 2023-03-07)

#101

This suggestion blocks main access to Northern suburbs with no consideration for people using these throughfare to access Santon/Rosebank/the Parks. Makes absolutely no sense to try making main routes to the economic hub of SA accessed controlled without consideration for traffic flow for the sake of pleasing the minority.

Yolandi Wepener (Johannesburg, 2023-03-07)

#104

I object to the closing off of streets and pushing crime into surrounding areas

Roshan Cader (Johannesburg, 2023-03-08)

#105

After some thought I agree with the points detailed in the petition. Only a few people will benefit, but for most it will make life harder. We need to come up with an alternate idea that benefits the community as a whole.

Ivan Leathers (Johannesburg, 2023-03-08)

#106

I am signing because I believe that South Africa has moved on from policies of exclusion and separation. I think we need to jointly look for ways of improving safety and security, justice and policing, fighting the scourge of drugs and making our streets safe. I believe that we need desperately to work at creating legal ways for people to provide for their families. I do not think that the Melville Safe Streets Initiative will assist in any way to achieve these broader goals. I do not live in the area inside the proposed cordon but would genuinely oppose it even if I did live there.

Patricia Alexander (Johannesburg, 2023-03-08)

#107

Turning Melville into a gated community will likely change the historically vibrant suburb into a dead zone, surrounded by traffic congestion and urban decay.

Furthermore, it has been shown that gated communities do not necessarily reduce crime, but in some instances can increase the rate the of burglaries (https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Is-it-safer-behind-the-gates-Crime-and-gated-in-Breetzke-Landman/59c538bb66ba27f39b5e083e26b90272e99c02e6).

Melville is inexorably connected to its neighbours and we can work together to make it better.

Isolation is not the answer.

Sett Wai (Johannesburg, 2023-03-08)

#108

I agree with this petition.

Bryan Doyle (Johannesburg, 2023-03-09)

#109

I strongly disagree with the proposed closures of the roads.

Faith Nedoboni (Johannesburg , 2023-03-09)

#113

I agree with all points raised in this petition, specifically that developing a gated community is exclusionary and not the answer to address crime. Rather put these funds into community projects and joint efforts like a neighborhood watch to jointly address crime in Melville and our surrounding neighborhoods.

Jennifer Baumann (Westdene, 2023-03-10)

#114

Melville is a thoroughfare for me and my children who school in Parkview and Emmarentia. The closures would severely impact an already congested route by redirecting Melville residents towards the main thoroughfares who would otherwise use the smaller roads to exit the suburb. My limited reading has also shown that gated communities have not seen significant decreases in crime and serve only to alienate those who live in close proximity and kill off any genuine economic development in hubs like 4th and 7th. I suggest more investment by residents in engaging with the business owners and surrounding areas including Westbury, Hursthill (where there is a large informal settlement) Brixton, Coronationville etc. to find more inclusive methods of living side by side. It is also my contention that residents have not fully accepted the student population who frequent the businesses in Melville and are attempting to isolate themselves from the many UJ and Wits students who live and study in the area. Whether we like it or not, Melville, Auckland Park and Westdene form part a student village and residents have a choice to either embrace it or resist. This initiative is clear resistance.

Earl Joseph (Johannesburg, 2023-03-10)

#115

We do not believe that the too few ‘manned access gates’ provided are going to address the major traffic impacts mentioned above.

marc shaw (jhb, 2023-03-10)

#118

I'm definitely against the proposed road closures as part of the Melville 'safe streets' initiative, for reasons outlined in this petition.

Tammy Reynard (Johannesburg, 2023-03-10)

#119

I agree that closing off Melville will exacerbate traffic congestion. The initiative is also anti-working class, and gives the impression that Melville is an elitist enclave.

Jerome Reynard (Johannesburg, 2023-03-10)

#120

Closing off one suburb in isolation is not an appropriate means of dealing with crime, a broader solution is required
Restricting access as per the proposal will create extreme traffic problems in surrounding areas
It is also likely to negatively impact on the safety of people in the surrounding suburbs
For many years Melville has been known nationally and internationally as a vibrant and open part of Joburg - this privatisation of access flies in the face of that

Graham Welch (Johannesburg, 2023-03-10)

#121

It directly affects the traffic on my street. It also affects my commute.

Kathleen Ebersohn-Khuvutlu (Johannesburg, 2023-03-10)

#122

I support this iniative

Merle Dieterich (Johannesburg, 2023-03-10)

#124

As a resident in lower Motor St this impacts massively on us. If this goes ahead I will not support a single business in Melville. If they don’t want me, they don’t want my money.

Michelle York (Westdene, 2023-03-10)

#126

It will displace crime into the surrounding areas, and ultimately whether written down or not thst is the only reason to close off streets.....because I tatally doubt there isca single environmental reason. And all the hostile architecture in the plans indicate irradicating homeless and crime

Dominique Philippopoulos (Johannesburg, 2023-03-11)

#127

I agree that closing off the centre of Melville would cut it off from the broader Auckland Park and Westdene of which it has always been a part and also introduce a divisive "us" and "them" dynamic into our neighbourhood. It will also impact negatively on movement within the greater neighbourhood and for movement between areas to the west and south such as Westdene/ Sophiatown and Auckland Park and areas to the north and east such as Parkview, Westcliff and Parktown East.

Mark Marais (Johannesburg, 2023-03-11)

#128

This plan is elite and exclusionary

Matt Edwards (Melville, 2023-03-11)

#130

I agree with the stated objections. Streets are our public space in cities and we should not be creating gated enclaves that will negatively impact a wide range of residents

Kate Joseph (Johannesburg, 2023-03-11)

#132

I’m opposed to the unfair nature of the road closure and the disruption it would cause to the area.

Rheedan Dugmore (Westdene , 2023-03-11)

#135

I don’t believe this is in the interest of the broader suburbs including westdene. I believe it will push crime into other suburbs. It will cause traffic congestion - I travel daily through Melville on the affected routes.

Darryl Smith (Westdene , 2023-03-11)

#138

1. Closure will lead to increased traffic volume on other streets.
2. Increased travel times for students and workers.

Sifiso Masuku (Westdene, 2023-03-11)

#139

The opportunistic criminals targeting Melville will start targeting surrounding areas. We are in Westdene and we are already challenged with a lot of crime. We do not need more opportunists targeting our area due to deterrants to Melville

Jaqueline Schwarz (Johannesburg, 2023-03-11)

#141

I believe this initiative is exclusionary and does not consider the wider impact on surrounding neighbourhoods. We do not live in isolated bubbles determined by imaginary borders. I support the pedestrianisation of 7th and parts of 4th.

Stephen Pentz (Johannesburg , 2023-03-11)

#142

I use these roads daily

Estelle H (Johannesburg, 2023-03-11)

#143

Closing these roads would seriously worsen congestion and increase the length and duration of my commute to university. Traffic studies done in the last 3 years are inherently flawed due to abnormal traffic during the pandemic, and must be repeated

Ernst Hechter (Johannesburg, 2023-03-11)

#144

I am a resident of avalanche and oppose this plan

Fatima Kasoojee (Johannesburg, 2023-03-11)

#147

I am a westdene resident and I believe the closure will have a negative impact on traffic flow from westdene through melville.

Jacques Viljoen (Johannesburg , 2023-03-11)

#148

I am signing because there needs to be a balance approach that benefit all people to address the challenges in the area

Yvonne Trumpelmann (Johannesburg, 2023-03-11)

#149

I will be very negatively affected by these road closures.

Gillian Finchilescu (Westdene, Johannesburg, 2023-03-12)

#153

I have no information on this change, and I've been sent no information of the traffic evaluation. I live 1 block from the new "zone" on 4th street entry, and I believe that you conducted the traffic assessment incorrectly. I. Trying to get hold of it now, but it is either outdated (pre covid) or need to understand how it was conducted as universities only started full time in person in 2023. So if the assessment shows all schooling in the area being available, and isn't 3 years old now, I will reassess, but at this point this looks to bring to significantly more traffic to Ayr street, which will lower my property value ( I am directly off Ayr) and shows complete lack of regard to the surrounding areas and the knock on effect. If this goes through, at least I will use this as presidence to close off Westdene. I also worry how I am going to get to work from here on out, as me being one street over from the new "compound" will mean the time taken to get to work (which is 7km and takes 30 min into Rosevank) may be as much as doubled with only one entry point on 4th ave.

Nicholas Brenner (Johannesburg , 2023-03-13)

#154

This is a disgusting policy to cut off the suburb from its surroundings and make it more difficult to get to and through Melville. It's exclusion to those deemed 'undesireable' and this privatisation or semi-privatisation of public roads needs to be stopped. Sidenote, I do think the petition's name is slightly misleading, it's not exclusively Westdene residents who opposse this and I feel we need to include those in Melville and elsewhere who also opposse this nonsense.

Joe Walsh (Johannesburg, 2023-03-30)

#156

I’m signing because I don’t want to add time and money to my daily travel. Closing Melville will not only cause me not to be able to access the restaurants in the area, but also that I need to travel from Westdene, around Melville to get to work.

Gideon Groenewald (Westdene, 2023-04-18)

#157

I am signing because I am traveling daily on those roads and this will be a big problem

Barbara Dadswell (Westdene, 2023-09-23)



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