Here with a Wednesday post! Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Weekend. Let's kick it off with a fun fact: Did you know that the Melville Hotel had the first ever restaurant in Melville?

In today’s newsletter,

• The CIB Patroller's Impact on Safety On The Strip 🦺

• Art In Melville: Avalon Art 🖼

• Random Acts Of Kindness 🤲

Let’s go. 

— Aubrey Moloto, Kele Jackson, Phoenix-lin Makhaya

The Digest

The CIB Patrollers: Melville's Street Guardians

After 2020, Melville started gaining a negative perception of being a crime hotspot. Phone snatchings became rife. House break-ins and carjackings got quite hectic as well. After speaking with experts and many people living and working here throughout our 29 issues of Melville Untold, we learnt that it's largely not a Melville problem, but a South Africa problem.

Crime Moves in Waves

Sector Crime Forum chairman Jonathan Thompson told us how together with SAPS they have noticed that crime moves from suburb to suburb in waves. When things get hectic in one area, authorities hyper-focus there, then the wave shifts. They've seen patterns where crime spikes move to Greenside, Parkhurst, Rosebank, Sandton, Fourways and then come back around.

We're not saying the perception isn't sometimes valid – there are moments, such as recent times, when community efforts must come into play. We turn to private security companies (mainly Beagle Watch in our area), but when even that isn't enough, heads must come together to add layers of prevention and deterrence. For our neighbourhood, particularly on the strip, that came in the form of the CIB patrollers.

Who Are the CIB Patrollers?

The CIB (Community In Blue) patrollers is a project run by the provincial Community Police Forum board with the MEC. They operate in the CBD and all around Jozi where clusters of businesses operate, with those businesses contributing toward the cause.

Our patrollers form part of the Brixton Community Policing Forum. These guys are vetted community members, selected by SAPS from a group of volunteers. They cover the Melville business node of 7th Street and 4th Avenue and are responsible for:

• Providing security visibility

• Gathering on-the-ground information and intel for authorities

• Assisting during emergencies by knowing correct contact protocols

• Neutralising situations where patrons become nuisances or fights break out (but only when not life-threatening)

The CIB's cannot enforce the law when dealing with incidents outside of businesses but must request law enforcement or Beagle Watch to handle such situations.

How They Operate

They work in three teams of four with rotating shifts from 9am to 6pm, then the night shift from 6pm to 2am Monday to Thursday. On weekends they knock off at 3am, around the time clubs close. Their shifts are structured as three days on and three days off.

The chain of command links to the sector crime forum, although their operational requirements primarily come from the Melville Business Association (MBA).

When an incident like a phone snatching happens, they first report the vehicle model, colour, number plates and location. This intel helps SAPS track vehicles across different areas, resulting in several busts.

Origins of the Initiative

The idea came from Colonel Govender, a previous station commander at Brixton Police Station. The colonel came from Joburg Central where a similar project existed. Big companies like FNB and Standard Bank contributed to keep their businesses and surrounding areas safe. He saw the impact and thought it could work in Melville.

The model involves Melville businesses contributing to the Brixton CPF, who in turn supply the required patrollers. Danny of the MSI helps organise shifts and coordinates their tactical approach. They're headquartered at the old Satellite police station on First Avenue, working closely with the MSI.

Cobi Meyer from Ziggy's Pet Pamporium coordinates the business contribution efforts and administration as the MBA encourages businesses to contribute.

Impact and Limitations

The MBA knows this isn't a silver bullet for crime but a meaningful step toward progress. It's not a robust, heavily-armed tactical militia, but it's the best option given current resources. With the number of businesses currently contributing monthly, the MBA can provide a small stipend, transport, and basic provisions like uniforms, torches, radios, batons and pepper spray.

Some believe contributions to security initiatives should eradicate all concerns, but we must be realistic about costs. An armed force patrolling the business node in these shifts would cost three times more than the CIB patrollers. For that money to be raised, we'd need every Melville business to contribute, plus possible donations from residents and other bodies – a long shot currently.

The Results Speak Volumes

Let's look at the numbers. Danny of the MSI says before the CIB patrollers, "We had on record 4 phone snatchings on a bad day in the peak months. We record now between 4 and 6 a month."

The success stories are countless. We've seen many people praise the patrollers on the I Love Melville group. Cobi says patrons often give raving reviews about the shift in crime trends. Local accommodations like 7th Street Guesthouse feel more confident sending guests to the strip.

While overall incidents have decreased, the type of crime has shifted. Stolen car lights seem to be the thing all over Joburg now, while phone snatchings in Melville have dropped drastically. Police and Beagle Watch have caught perpetrators using intel from the patrollers.

Most crimes reported recently happen between 3-6am when CIB patrollers aren't working, so it would be unfair to judge their effectiveness based on those incidents.

The Humans Behind the Jackets

We must think about the humans behind these high-visibility jackets. We talked to one of the teams and realised this job isn't a cake-walk. Before becoming CIB patrollers, they were all unemployed. Though the contributions aren't enough to warrant risking their lives daily, they appreciate that the small stipend puts food on their table.

They feel proud and confident they've had an effect on Melville. Being on the ground, they see a lot and shared many scary stories with us. Armed only with batons and pepper spray, even they worry about their safety, but they brave it out. They expressed a need for more contributions or sponsors to provide armed backup during weekend nights, especially during month-ends and peak periods. As winter approaches, they could use uniform reinforcements like jackets and boots as well.

Looking Forward

People generally expect a certain level of service but fail to match the price. The CIB patrollers are human beings who have come to help challenge Melville's high-crime perception. For the resources available, they've done a stellar job.

With the MSI's Safe Streets initiative on the way, police forum meetings, community appeals for higher presence from SAPS, Beagle Watch support, and the community speaking out in heated discussions focused on solutions, it feels like Melville has turned a corner. This community cares too much to let it slip into decay. We need to pull together and do what we can.

To support the CIB patrollers, contact Cobi, Danny or Jonathan Thompson to see what you can do. Every effort to fight this perception and make our area safe again counts!

If you enjoyed today’s digest consider buying us a coffee. 

What’s Happenin’ 🤔

Thanks to a subscriber suggestion in our survey, we have solved the regular gigs vs one-off gigs dilemma. Today we're proud to present a Melville event calendar platform! All gigs will be added here. Once our official website is up, we'll integrate the calendar and let event organisers add their own events there as well. For now, visit and bookmark this link to always know what events are happening in our hood!

The Melville Pulse Events Calendar 👈 Click here!

Melville Weather For The Week ☔️ 

Wednesday 

20° 🌡️ 11°  | 🌩️ |  🌧️ 96% | WNW 13 km/h 💨

Thursday  

20° 🌡️ 7° | 🌧️ | 🌧️ 81% | NW 11 km/h 💨

Friday 

22° 🌡️ 8° | ☀️  | 🌧️ 1% | NNW 6 km/h 💨

Saturday 

23° 🌡️ 9° | 🌤️ |  🌧️ 2% | NNW 6 km/h 💨

Sunday

23° 🌡️ 9° |  ⛅️ | 🌧️ 2% | SW 2 km/h 💨

Monday 

22° 🌡️ 9° | 🌤️ |  🌧️ 2% | WNW 4 km/h 💨

Tuesday 

23° 🌡️ 8° | 🌤️ |  🌧️ 5% | NNW 14 km/h 💨

Live & Music Events Lowdown 🎸

After a jam-packed Easter weekend, April may still have a little more left in the tank for us.

24/04 Thursday | 7 pm | Chiesa di PAZZO LUPi | Kgothatso Laka ft. Tinyiko Mathebula, Bernice Biokanyo, Itumeleng Mfokeng, Lekgoa Komane, Lebohang Motloung| R180

25/04 | Friday | 7.30 pm | Chiesa di PAZZO LUPi | ABAVUKI Ablum Release Tour: The Right Key | R180

25/04 | Friday | 9 pm | Smoking Kills Bar | Midnight Mass ft. Adam, Seth, Lotion | R80

25/04 | Friday | 6 pm | Coca Restaurant Lounge | The Secure The Vibe Tour: Ft. Klouty1, Mtshingos, Queenssalute, DRG LastNumba | R100

26/04 | Saturday | 7.30 pm | Chiesa di PAZZO LUPi | Greg Moonsammy & Jazz Xpressions ft. Darlington Okofu Osaji, Siya Makuzeni, Lwanda Gogwana, Peter Auret, Kagiso Ramela | R200

26/04 | Saturday | 8 pm | Smoking Kills Bar | Mouse Dynasty House: Zondo Commission ft. Xissara and Marigold | R120 *R100 if you dress up according to the cherry theme*

27/04 | Sunday | 6 pm | Smoking Kills Bar | Nomadic Orchestra: live Show | R100

For more updates as the week goes on, visit our instagram page @snapson7th or our new Melville Pulse event calendar

The Tail End 🐾

The pet Winter Wear Competition is 1 week away! First Prize will be announced in next week’s newsletter. Remember that 2nd Prize is a hamper from Ziggy’s worth R750! Join in the fun so we can all see Melville’s cute animals. 🐶 

Art In Melville 🖼 

Avalon Art

Another facet of Melville screaming to be represented in Melville Untold is visual art.

There are tons of galleries and art and craft spaces in Melville, from Gordart Stokvel Gallery, Denzil's & Jo's next door, Ashby Studios who are all in Joburg Artist Market, and then you have Martin Wenkidu's Studio 27 across the road, Hildegard's Avalon Art at the back side on 3rd Avenue, Nkululeko adding in with Melville Mansions, and then Melville Mudroom on Main Road with pottery. Heck, even Picobella has openings from time to time!

In the last few weeks, it's felt like art in Melville is coming alive again! There's been openings and exhibitions left, right, and centre, and many conversations on how to make deliberate effort to bring art culture and experiences back here—and we're here for it! We'll bring you highlights and art news in this section, starting with Avalon Art.

Avalon Art has a longer history than we initially thought, starting from even before COVID hit. They are a multifaceted art space where owner Hildegard and her mother Rae showcase and sell handmade art and crafts of many mediums, even using recycled materials like tea bags, bottle tops, and much more.

Avalon Art is very Melville-homely and has a warm and welcoming atmosphere for people to consume art and enjoy being in a creative space. After a long time, hindered by COVID and life's circumstances, they have opened up once again to the public. People can catch their exhibitions on weekends and will soon be holding art classes, workshops, and look to bring back their long table dinners with a side of intimate live music.

You can find them at 80 3rd Avenue, Melville, selling art, jewellery, crochet tops, and many other beautiful crafty things!

Icing On The Cake 🧁

On Easter Sunday, the Mofago initiative, headed up by Naomi Menyoko together with other community members, made Easter lunch for the vulnerable members of our community. They brought some Easter joy to the less fortunate, showing kindness and providing warm meals for the holiday.

In a community currently battling through a wave of social problems, much like other surrounding northern suburbs, crime, addiction, and homelessness have been major topics in our forums. The Police and homelessness experts have given us a lot of advice and guides on helping responsibly (See our Forgotten Citizens issue).

It sometimes feels hard to zoom out and see the human side of it all. It seems like we are all conflicted and almost hesitant to do good with this new collective ideology of helping responsibly, fighting to raise our area back up while still being rooted in our values and having a moral compass.

Looking at the pictures from this initiative, you see that it's not just so-called "vagrants" who need a helping hand given the current economic conditions. There are families, children, students, and many other types of people struggling to make ends meet. They also benefit from feeding schemes and random acts of kindness. This is probably a discussion that needs to be opened up and feels way bigger than our little platform. I think we need a cohesive approach for the community to support each other while helping responsibly and effectively too.

This thoughtful initiative takes place every Christmas, Easter, and Women's Day. If you would like to contribute to Mofago, you can contact Naomi at 062 012 4784. 

Thank you! 🙏

This month has been another growth leap for us! The Tail End, Art Corner, and Melville Pulse events calendar. It feels like things are building up organically, and we're so happy you're here for it!

If you enjoyed this post-Easter hangover issue of Melville Untold, consider buying us a coffee!

Til next Tuesday,

Keep growing, keep evolving, and be a human becoming. 🦋

Bis bald! ✌️