SAPS requests safety measures in park
The Cleveland SAPS has called on other authorities to help implement safety measures in Rhodes Park.
Although several arrests have been made for crimes committed in and around the park, Colonel Bongani Dlamini, Cleveland SAPS’ station commander, said more has to be done to prevent further incidents from taking place.
“We conduct regular patrols in the park, but our capacity does not allow us to be in the park all day. We need help. I appeal to local councillors and Johannesburg City Parks for assistance. We need more lights in the park and regular patrols by park rangers,” he said. He was speaking at a recent Cleveland Community Police Forum (CCPF) meeting.
Col Dlamini said he is aware park rangers patrol other facilities, such as Zoo Lake and Florida Park, and requests the same for Rhodes Park.
He said gates which remain open at the park are increasing the chances of more incidents taking place.
Clr Carlos da Rocha, ward 66, said increasing lighting in the park will not yield positive results.
“Council installed lights in the park on several occasions but criminals stole the cables. Some criminals cut a whole light pole off,” he said.
Meetings to discuss security in the park and find solutions will be held between him and other stakeholders.
Ms Jenny Moodley, spokesperson for City Parks, said the entity is considering its options.
“We have stepped up patrols in the park. We are in discussions with other role players. We are considering giving a set of keys for the park to Clr Da Rocha. Residents who are interested can volunteer to open the gates at 6am in the morning and close them at 6pm at night. If controlled access does not help we will consider other options,” she said.
Ms Moodley agreed that more lighting alone will not eradicate problems.
“We tried this in other areas and people refused to leave the park. If we add more lighting people will think they can stay in the park 24 hours. If we do consider lighting, it will be for outside the park,” she said.
She added that City Parks does not have the manpower to patrol more than they are already patrolling.
“Park rangers become reaction officers after 6pm. We do not have the manpower to continue patrols at night. We can maybe increase patrols during the day but we need the police’s assistance at night,” she said.
Crimes committed in the park include robberies and muggings.
Some suggestions made by members of the public included charging an entrance fee, hiring 24-hour security and closing several entrances permanently.
In articles published in the past, Ms Moodley said none of its parks have an entrance fee. If it is considered, public participation meetings will have to be held and decisions will have to be made on who and how fees will be collected.
Apart from arrests made by the Cleveland SAPS, a man was also sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for robberies committed in Kensington. He was arrested in Rhodes Park in April after committing two crimes on the same day.
