Residents seek solutions for park after gang rape
Shock after hearing that a woman was gang raped and dropped off in a park, has led to residents urging authorities to implement security measures.
Warrant Officer Richard Munyai, Jeppe SAPS communications officer, said a woman (24), said she was at Melrose Arch on Sunday last week at a nightclub. While calling for a taxi, two men in a vehicle approached her.
The driver asked her where she was going and when she told him he said they were going in the same direction. She went with them. “When they reached the park at the corner of Benbow and Argyle streets in Kensington, the driver stopped the car and took her into the park. The men allegedly raped her. She said the men left her there and five other men raped her as well,” said W/O Munyai. Residents in the area found her and called the police. No arrests have been made.
This incident is not the only one that has affected this community.
Residents in streets surrounding the park are tired of the crimes taking place as a result of the lack of safety measures. The park has no gates and fencing. It leads to the koppies, making it easy for criminals to escape. Mr Navin Bachu, from the Western Kensington Residents’ Association (WKRA), said he was lucky enough to catch one of them. He chased after a man from Blenheim Street after he mugged a child. Mr Bachu, a police officer from Jeppe SAPS and another resident cornered the man close to a cliff on the koppies. There are two lights in the park, one of which, residents say, works occasionally.
Some residents, especially those living on the border of the park, have been victims of crime on several occasions.
From comments on a WhatsApp group created by Mr Bachu to keep residents informed of what is happening in their surroundings, it would seem there are people loitering and eyeing properties on a regular basis.
Mr Shaquille Sayers, who lives next to the park, said criminals stand at the top of the mountain to see what residents have in their yards. Building higher walls does not help because all criminals have to do is go higher up the mountain. The property Mr Sayers lives in has been accessed by thieves on numerous occasions from the park. He and several other residents said that the park must be fenced off. Ms Zahn Hughes said, “Vagrants sleep in the park. People use drugs there. There are some youngsters who smoke dagga there instead of being at school and do stupid things because their senses are impaired. There is also an open drain that people can hide in,” said Ms Hughes.
The filthy open drain is huge with pieces of drain covers over it making it the perfect hideout for criminals. Residents believe if the current lights are fixed and more lighting is installed in the park, it will deter criminals.
Ms Jenny Moodley, from City Parks, said the entity will look into requests for lighting in the park.
“We will investigate if it is a case where the current lighting can be improved. For additional lighting to be installed a request would have to be put forward to council for capital funding. This request would have to come from the local councillor,” she said.
Clr Carlos da Rocha, ward 66, said he will take up the residents’ concerns with council.
“I cannot have incidents, like those mentioned above, in my ward. I will request more lighting. I am not sure if council will install fencing. To get council to install a stolen gate in Rhodes Park took months. Residents affected by problems in Rhodes Park and I are working together to find solutions we, as a community, can implement. I can do the same with residents around Benbow Park. I will meet with them, discuss options and try and find solutions,” he said.
Ms Moodley requested that residents consider options other than fencing for the park.
“Implementing 24-hour security and fencing is not feasible. If it is done for one park we will have to do it for all parks. Maybe residents can consider a private security company?
“We can consider allowing a private security company to monitor the park. Maybe they can park there and advertise with signs. If residents get a security company that is interested, we will consider it,” she said.
Mr Bachu said the need for security measures is important because the park is of great importance to the residents.
“The kids love the place. Couples relax there as well,” he said.
The park is also used by the WKRA to bring neighbours together through community functions. Residents are investigating the possibility of installing cameras in the area.
Mr Bachu said the community appreciates the response from Jeppe SAPS to problems in and around the park.
W/O Munyai said suspicious people in the park are searched. “The sector van will patrol at all times to make sure there are no criminal activities taking place in the park. The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) will be consulted to address the open drain,” he said.
The EXPRESS reported the problem to JRA. Officials said JRA will attend to the problem. Officials said the drain area will be made safe until a more permanent solution can be adopted.
