Allegations against SAPS to be investigated

Measures will also be put in place to address problems encountered by residents who live around the Langermann koppies.

Clr Victor Penning, a Kensington resident, recently demanded that authorities take action against vagrants and criminals at the Langermann koppies.

Expressing his frustration at the lack of action from Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ), Jeppe SAPS and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), Clr Penning said, “Criminals living on the Langermann koppies are raiding the homes daily of residents living around the hill.

“I see these criminals on the hill carrying stolen metal pipes and other items every day. The vagrants survey residents’ movements from their elevated positions on the hill and parts of the koppies look like a rubbish dump.

“This environmentally important gem in our city is being desecrated. Trees are being chopped down for firewood and shelters, while the fauna, mainly guinea fowl, is being trapped for food. My repeated appeals for action seem to have fallen on deaf years for over 12 years. No resident can walk on the koppies. There have been cases of assault, armed robbery and attempted rape on this hill over the past three years,” said Clr Penning.

He said he contacted the Jeppe SAPS about two months ago for help and four police officers arrived.

“I pointed out where I had seen two criminals hiding metal items in a small cave under a huge prominent boulder on the hill.

“I asked them to climb a short way up the hill to investigate what had been stolen and whether the criminals were still hiding there.

“They ignored my directions, went around the wrong side of the boulder and said there was nothing to see. My offer to take them up to the correct side of the boulder was refused. They said the blackjack seeds were sticking to their uniforms. This seemed more important to them than apprehending criminals or recovering stolen items. Despite my protests, they climbed into their vans and drove away,” said Clr Penning.

He said criminals operating from the koppies have entered his property twice over the past two months and took copper water pipes.

“The worse blow was when they stole my mountain bike recently, despite strict security measures taken by me,” said Clr Penning. He said authorities seem blind to the criminals who wheel trolleys or wheelie bins with stolen items.

“Despite the Jeppe SAPS claiming to regularly check the koppies, I never see them doing so. Despite my regular requests for action from the JCPZ, I never see park rangers, JMPD or any other authority taking any action,” he said.

Clr Penning said he started requesting a decent two metre palisade fence around the perimeter of the Langermann koppies when he was the ward councillor in early 2000.

“Had a small section been budgeted for each year from then, we would by now, have a fully fenced koppie that could be locked up at night.

“I appeal to the authorities to find a solution and implement a plan to combat these crimes. It is only a matter of time before a resident is attacked by these criminals,” said Clr Penning.

Brigadier Govindsamy Mariemuthoo, acting station commander for Jeppe SAPS, said he will not tolerate lack of service delivery from officers under his command.

“It is unacceptable if police officers did not attend to Clr Penning’s complaints. I will appoint an officer to attend to his complaints. We will patrol and put other measures in place to address the concerns. I will also get my intelligence officers to investigate,” he said.

He said although residents are complaining about the crime emanating from the koppies, not many cases were opened with Jeppe SAPS.

“Clr Penning said residents are targeted on a daily basis. If it is not brought to our attention we will not know about it. We have meetings to discuss the crime that has taken place over the last 24 hours on a daily basis. Crimes on the koppies do not feature often. If crime is taking place in the area, people need to open cases. Report crime to us so we can investigate. We do search people with trolleys and bins and we find stolen items in their possession. Action is taken,” said Brig Mariemuthoo.

Superintendent Edna Mamonyane, the JMPD spokesperson, said trying to address problems with vagrants in the City of Johannesburg (COJ) is challenging.

“We are aware there are criminals using the koppies as a hide-out. We do attend to these problems across the city. Maybe the JMPD officers who attend community police forum meetings can organise operations with the SAPS and tackle the problems. The other problem we have is that we cannot take vagrants to shelters and homes without their consent. Social service members do speak to them but they refuse to go to these places,” said Supt Mamonyane.

Ms Unathi Mguye, from the JCPZ, previously stated that park rangers conduct frequent patrols along the koppies in Kensington. She said the number of homeless people using open spaces throughout Johannesburg is a concern.

According to her, the JCPZ involves all role players when conducting removals from open spaces, however displaced people return soon after.