SAPS, City Parks dealing with open spaces

Over the past year the EXPRESS highlighted concerns about several parks and open spaces.

Some of the concerns included residents being terrorised by criminals and living in fear daily.

Parents spoke of how they had to send their children to live elsewhere because they did not want to expose them further to what was happening on the Observatory Ridge.

According to a resident, who did not want his name published, criminals were also posing as priests to lure women onto the ridge to rape them, children were being sodomised and vehicles close by were being broken into.

The Yeoville SAPS spokesperson, Constable Thabo Malatji, has warned people to be careful, or to rather stay away from open spaces in their precinct.

Public meetings were also held to discuss crime and harassment by vagrants in and around open spaces at the Langermann koppies, Benbow Park, Panorama Park, the Scottish Horse War Memorial and Rhodes Park.

At one of these meetings, Colonel Lindiwe Magudulela who represented the Jeppe SAPS, said the Jeppe SAPS planned to conduct joint operations with the JCPZ to tackle problems encountered by residents. At the time, patrols by the SAPS were increased as well.

The JCPZ also fenced off certain areas around the Observatory Ridge and Rhodes Park.

Speaking about the partnership between the JCPZ and Jeppe SAPS recently, Ms Jenny Moodley, the spokesperson for the JCPZ, said park rangers and the Jeppe SAPS are members of the Inner City Parks Safety Forum. She said Jeppe’s precinct is regarded as a “high-concern for opportunistic crime”.

“Residents and visitors to public open spaces are urged to always remain vigilant, adhere to the by-laws of being in a park between 6am and 6pm and report any suspicious activity to the Joburg Connect Call Centre on 011 375-5911 or to the Jeppe SAPS,” she said.

@JoziReporter