The Democratic Alliance (DA) will raise the glaring lack of security at the Markman Fresh Produce Market in Gqeberha before the Nelson Mandela Council and Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture (EDTA) Standing Committee, following the abduction of a market agent’s family member on-site last month.
We have also written to Acting City Manager Ted Pillay requesting that he commissions a comprehensive security risk assessment within the next 30 days, followed by a detailed action plan to address safety issues at the market.
Last week the DA conducted an unannounced oversight inspection at the market and found serious safety lapses that put vendors, workers, and the public at high risk.
The inspection revealed critical issues such as a lack of lighting in key areas, non-functional alarms and panic buttons, inadequate access control, broken CCTV cameras, under-equipped security guards, and vulnerable boundary walls.
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In our letter to the Acting City Manager, we not only requested a security risk assessment but also recommended several further steps the municipality could take to enhance safety at the market.
The recommendations include:
- Immediate installation of adequate lighting in all key areas, including entrances, internal roads, and vendor stalls.
- Urgently repair and activate all alarm and panic button systems, including providing mobile panic buttons to staff at the cashier section and guarding offices.
- Introduce strict access control policies including ID presentation upon entry, access card systems for staff and vendors, visitor registration procedures and vehicle search protocols.
- Install a functional CCTV system monitored off-site in real-time, with AI-based threat detection capabilities.
- Provide all on-site guards with functioning two-way radios, batons and pepper spray or tasers.
- Replace the missing boom gate and repair or install a functional vehicle arrestor system to regulate entry/exit.
- Immediately secure all open boundary sections with barbed wire or fencing until permanent infrastructure can be built.
- Equip all cashier stations with CCTV coverage and panic buttons.
Due to the high level of danger caused by the lack of security at the site, the DA will submit questions to Council’s EDTA portfolio committee to provide details on issues such as lighting upgrade plans, status of alarm and panic button systems, access control measures, CCTV system functionality, security guard equipment and plans to secure boundary walls.
We remain committed to ensuring safety and security in Nelson Mandela Bay – the well-being of our residents, workers, and vendors is non-negotiable. All possible measures must be taken to ensure their protection.
The DA is in your corner, fighting for a safer metro. Together we can get Nelson Mandela Bay working again.