GEORGE NEWS - Concerns about crime in the dense vegetation and greenbelt areas in George are escalating.
Residents and neighbourhood watches are warning that these sites are increasingly being used to conceal stolen goods and as hideouts for criminal activity.
A key challenge is the multiple ownership of the land, much of which is state-owned and does not fall under municipal jurisdiction. This complicates clean-up operations and law enforcement.
Police action is limited, because arrests must be linked to registered cases, and anti-land invasion units cannot monitor all areas continuously. Civil organisations and neighbourhood watches have attempted to patrol and clear problem areas through joint operations, but residents warn that the situation is worsening. Rising theft, particularly copper and cable theft, has caused power outages in areas along greenbelts such as Victoria Bay, Denneoord, Dormehls Drift and Wilderness Heights.
The residents of Victoria Bay conducted a community clean-up on Saturday 7 March, clearing dense alien vegetation at the top of the Victoria Bay Pass near the N2. The operation also involved the Victoria Bay Neighbourhood Watch and AfriForum members.
Clean-up operations by local neighbourhood watches and community members in the Victoria Bay area. Photo: Chris Coetzer
Gerhan Archer, chairperson of the neighbourhood watch, which is affiliated with AfriForum, said the clean-up was necessary due to the persistent crime, including copper theft. A resident had identified the site as a location where stolen items had been hidden before being transported elsewhere.
During the clean-up, the residents reportedly found stolen cables and evidence of drug use and other illegal activities. This was the same area in which a woman’s body was discovered in 2024. The residents contributed both financially and physically - removing the vegetation using chainsaws and a wood chipper.
Similar concerns were raised by Timothy Luff of the Dormehls Drift Neighbourhood Watch. Luff said the members had visited a greenbelt site on Sunday 1 March and found 12 to 14 people handling scrap metal in the bush. Some appeared to be living in the area. Law enforcement was called in after the individuals refused to leave, and the structures were dismantled before the group dispersed.
Clean-up during a joint operation in the Dormehls Drift area. Photo: Timothy Luff
Luff warned that the level of comfort displayed by some people occupying greenbelt areas is alarming.
Neighbourhood watches continue to apply pressure to prevent illegal occupation, describing it as an ongoing daily challenge.
The issue was also raised during a recent community imbizo convened by the Western Cape Minister for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, during which Luff requested urgent intervention.
Many fear that if the situation is not addressed, it could threaten the safety of George and the Garden Route’s natural environment.
George Herald recently reported that crime in the greater George remains a pressing concern, as recent statistics (October to December 2025) showed both the scale of offences and the challenges facing local law enforcement. From theft and burglary to sexual and violent crimes, the figures reveal where the communities are most affected, and the importance of proactive policing is critical.
The George Police Station faces a wide range of crimes, ranking fifth in the province for theft not elsewhere classified with 264 cases, second for burglary at non-residential premises with 49 cases, and 19th for burglary at residential premises with 65 cases.
Crime stats :
• Burglary non-residential up by 14 cases, total of 49 cases - second highest in the province
• Burglary residential down by eight, total 65 cases
• Property-related crime up by 22, total 196 cases
• All theft not mentioned above up by 62, total 264 cases.
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