Melkbosstrand residents are offering a R17 000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of graffiti vandals .
Since Friday October 14, residents have winced at graffiti found at random spots, such as the MyCiTi bus stop, a 6th Avenue estate agency and the wall of a resident’s home.
Melkbosstrand Ratepayers’ Association chairwoman Smokie la Grange said the graffiti was all spray-painted words.
Estate agent Trevor Courtney coughed up R10 000 for the reward, a local guest house gave R5 000 and ratepayer groups from Melkbosstrand, Table View and Milnerton offered R1500.
Ms La Grange, said they had caught the perpetrators on camera and were “closing in” on them.
“We have been working with local detectives who have assembled a profile, and, according to information received, it was a very close fit,” she said.
The police, community police forum, neighbourhood watch and affected businesses had attended an “emergency meeting” on Friday afternoon to discuss the problem.
JP Smith, mayoral committee member for safety and security, said he knew about the graffiti problem in Melkbosstrand.
“The City budget for graffiti cleaning totals R1 million which is sourced via the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) annually for employment of 35 cleaning staff and equipment to clean up illegal graffiti across the metropole,” said Mr Smith.
A graffiti vandal faced a R15 000 fine or three months in jail for a first offence and a R30 000 fine or six months in jail for a second. An offender could also be made to pay for removing the graffiti.
Melkbosstrand police are investigating a case of malicious damage to property. Anyone with information, can contact Warrant Officer Keith Daniels at 083 604 1679, or SAPS Melkbosstrand at 021 553 8200. Email the MRA at nografitti@yahoo.com or find them on Facebook.
