17-05-2025
Why all the bedlam in Verulam?
If you head north on the N3, past Umhlanga, you would literally end up in what could be called a large hamlet. A town which was founded in 1850 by a group of 400 Methodist settlers from St. Albans, United Kingdom, under the patronage of Earl Verulam, led by Thomas Champeon. They established a settlement in Natal and named it Verulam after the English town of Verulamium.
If you recall the classic Robert Redford-directed movie, 'A River runs Through it' starring Brad Pitt, Verulam could very well be eligible to qualify for that title. The uMdloti River has basically the banks on which the town lies.
Here's another mind-blowing fact: Verulam is the only place in the world where the main street (Wick Street) ends in a river. Go and visit it. It is a splendid piece of serendipity. However, be alert and ever-cautious. Social media these days, especially the crime-alert groups are replete, daily, with criminal activity occurring in the little town. My colleague on this newspaper, journalist Yoshini Perumal wrote a well-researched and thorough analysis of the town and its crime in last week's edition. I will get back to that aspect later in this piece.
To me, it was very sad, as Verulam had a huge part and effect on me in my formative years. On Sundays, we had religious meetings in the august Town Hall. It was diagonally opposite to the landmark Green Cat complex, which had been a popular cinema house back in the day. My brother and I spent many school holidays in the town accompanied by my dear grandmom, spending quality time with friends and relatives. The constant allure up to this day, is the sweetest and my favourite fruit of all time. The lychee or litchi, is a small sweet fruit believed to have originated in China.
During the annual litchi season, vendors, the length and breadth of KZN, sell the product on the roadside. The magic words that make it irresistible to the public is on the sign displayed: 'Sweet Verulam litchis'. Even as a grown up, I visited the town regularly. Param Singh, son of renown Himalaya Road panel beater Mr Mothi Singh, was in high school with me and we were close buddies. Sadly, the buddy died in a car accident years ago.
In the foothills of the magnificent steel bridge over the river was a palatial abode, which belonged to Anglo-American tycoon Mr Harry Oppenheimer. It resembled very much the country estates depicted in Hollywood movies of the old Deep South of the USA. The residence was administered and run by his employee and nurse, Agnes, who was a family friend. The abode had a wrap-around veranda, where if you lounged, it felt like you were in the movie 'Gone with the Wind'.
I also had a wonderful gentleman and his family who lived in the town and were huge supporters of my radio show. Every month we were invited to their home in Mount View. The staple menu was my favourite Fresh fowl curry expertly cooked by his gracious wife, Savy. Sadly, Roy passed on a few years ago but he was responsible for magnificent, indelible memories in my life. I am still in contact with his daughter, Saroshni, which I feel is a vital link for me and nostalgia.
Now, unfortunately for the negative side of this once resplendent town! My colleague Yoshini's afore-mentioned article was entitled 'Verulam residents live in fear as crime escalates in the CBD'.
As she writes: the residents 'are increasingly fearful as crime rates soar, with reports of thefts, stabbings, and armed robberies becoming common place, leaving shoppers and business owners on edge.'
My friend, Prem Balram, head of Reaction Unit of South Africa (RUSA), said that 'crime was escalating because of the market for stolen goods. The challenging part is that the same people who complain about crime are the very ones purchasing the stolen goods.' I offer no solution to this problem as I know that RUSA has the situation firmly in their radar.
According to car guards in the CBD, dozens of attacks on citizens occur daily. The criminals carry on their nefarious deeds with impunity. Rumours are that official police officers witness many of these incidents but refuse to alight from the comfort of their official vehicles. Here is where RUSA has stepped into the breach. Arresting criminals is par for the course for these courageous law enforcement officers. Crime aside, they are known to willingly respond to callouts for animals stuck in awkward places, animal cruelty and more recently, numerous calls to remove deadly black mambas visiting the residents. Intrepid men of action for justice is putting it mildly, I think.
I mean it can't be pleasant to try and buy a kilo of Deena's spicy sausages and get pickpocketed. He is a legend and is located in central town.
