The residents say illegal activities like the manufacturing, distribution and sale of drugs are taking place in the area. The business district hosts a variety of enterprises including a night club, accommodation facilities and furniture shops.Angry residents from Duncan Village took to the streets protesting against the high numbers of burglaries they are subjected to. They allege that the stolen items are then sold in the St Paul’s Street area in the CBD of East London.
“It’s affecting us in the sense that there informed by the use of drugs everytime they steal they actually looking for a fix to get a fix from this particular residence. We have discovered they’re the source of crime.”“There are drug deals going on a daily basis. There are police, every now and again they come and search cars for drugs. It is a situation which I don’t think it will be resolved unless serious action will be taken by the police.
“The South African Police are exacerbating the whole thing by collecting bribes from some of these guys in the street instead of fighting crime. You end up seeing them going to the back door getting money from these guys that is why the problem had continued for this long.”