Residents alarmed by sudden spike in crime
Paulshof Hill residents still call for the Rietfontein Nature Reserve electric fence to be fixed as it puts them at risk.
Paulshof Hill residents have experienced an increase in crime, which residents attribute to the Rietfontein Nature Reserve’s electric fence not being fixed for several years.
According to Paulshof Hill Community Association founder Lita Jacobsen, the broken electric fence was first reported to Johannesburg City Parks on September 19, 2019. Jacobsen claims that this has become one of the access points that criminals use to enter the area and that it puts them at risk as it allows easy access to resident’s houses.
“Residents bordering the Rietfontein Nature Reserve are the ones that have to deal with the worst of it.
“We’ve been reporting and calling on City Parks to have the fence fixed but our plea has fallen on deaf ears,” said Jacobsen.
She provided an email thread from their interaction about the issue with JCPZ from 2019 along with the relevant reference numbers.
Fourways Review contacted Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo on April 11 for comment on the matter. The entity’s North Conservation Specialist in the Conservation Management Department’s Phillip Mkhombo said that an investigation would take place as they were not aware that the damaged fence was affecting nearby residents. He said that he would get back to the Fourways Review after following up with the relevant department and facilities management using the information provided.
One of the residents who fell victim to the increase in crime spoke about his terrifying experience.
“On the morning of April 11, we got a visit from thugs, they tried to break into the cottage and were not even bothered by the occupants screaming inside. We called security but by the time they arrived the thieves had jumped into the servitude,” claimed Brian Lupiya, a resident in the area.
Fourways Review contacted Sandton Police Station spokesperson, Captain Bheki Xulu, who said, “I spoke to our station sector manager of the Paulshof area and she is aware of the crime escalating but she is not aware of the damaged fence and it being the entry point. She will follow up,” said Xulu.
The Sandton Community Police Forum’s (CPF) public relations officer, Roshan Byjnal,
confirmed they are aware of the incidents that area but can only do so much to assist.
“We are aware of the crime in the area, just like most areas we deal with but, as the CPF, we can only drive awareness in these areas and help them combat it,” he said
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