Rape hotspot has community fired up
Past requests to City Power to clear the area of dumping and maintain the area to the satisfaction of the surrounding neighbourhood and residents have been met with limited success.
A mother’s plea for the safety of all women has sent shockwaves through the Edenvale community.
Her plea came roughly a week after her daughter was dragged into the open field at the intersection of Palliser and Aitken roads and raped.
The crime was committed by two men believed to be living in the mounds of dumped building rubble in the area.
The mother, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her daughter, said the incident occurred on Wednesday night, July 9.
When reporting the case, she was told by police officers it was the third such incident in the area this month.
“So many women walk past these fields every day. I need them to be aware so that this does not happen to more women,” said the mother.
But, according to the Edenvale SAPS, information handed to the mother was incorrect.
The acting spokesperson for the Edenvale SAPS, Lieutenant Colonel Robbie Roberts, said the station had only dealt with one case of rape this month and that was the incident involving the young woman in the Greenstone area.
On Tuesday night last week, anonymous members of the community placed two signs next to the open field warning everyone that the area was a rape hotspot.
On Thursday afternoon, the NEWS confirmed that the outdoor advertising department of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) intended to remove the two boards.
According to the ward 18 councillor, Clr Heather Hart, the signs placed next to the intersection are illegal.
The NEWS questioned whether, along with the rape sign’s removal, if council would also remove all the other illegally placed signs on the corner.
“Yes, they will be removed,” said Clr Hart.
“The rape reported in this area is indeed tragic and alarming, but it must be noted that this area has never been regarded as safe. From the various reports received, the incident appears to have happened in the City Power servitude area between Edenvale and Greenstone. This area is, as such, somewhat of a ‘no man’s land’,” she added.
Past requests to City Power to clear the area of dumping and maintain the area to the satisfaction of the surrounding neighbourhood and residents have been met with limited success.
The NEWS questioned the EMM, City of Johannesburg and Eskom on what needed to happen before action would be taken to clear and secure the area.
In an enquiry sent to the three stakeholders, the NEWS highlighted that safety issues as well as issues surrounding illegal dumping, have been brought to the attention of all three entities continually for the last five years.
None of the calls made by either the NEWS or members of the community over the years were taken seriously.
The brand and communications department for the EMM commented that the area in question belonged to the City of Johannesburg and that the matter would be brought to the neighbouring municipality’s attention.
“I will again endeavour to bring them to the party to do what is necessary. This will include not only clearing and maintaining the area, but replacing broken bollards and erecting extra bollards as deemed necessary to prevent further dumping,” said Clr Hart.
