Benoni SAPS media liaison officer Lieut Nomsa Sekele said a man visited the park with his nephews on December 20, when three men, armed with knives, approached him.
“They demanded money and when he told them that he did not have any, they stabbed him in the face,” said Sekele.
The victim was searched by one of the robbers who later made off with a cell phone.
In a separate incident on January 2, two people were at the park when five men armed with knives approached the car they were in .
The robbers took three cell phones and a wallet which they found in the vehicle.
Sekele said the men failed to search the one victim who was armed with a gun.
As the suspects ran off, the victim fired shots towards the suspects, hitting one in the leg.
The injured suspect was arrested and was expected to appear in the Benoni Magistrates Court on Monday.
Cases of robbery with a weapon other than a firearm have been opened.
A case of attempted murder might still be opened against the man who shot one of the suspects.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the remaining suspects are asked to call 10111.
Sekele said police will engage with the Benoni Community Police Forum (CPF) and the municipality to discuss ways to curb crime at the park.
She said police are patrolling the area.
