Criminals use broken Rietfontein Reserve electric fence to gain access into Paulshof homes

A Paulshof resident and community activist, Lita Jacobsen, has raised security concerns over a broken electric fence on the border of Rietfontein Reserve.

Jacobsen claimed the broken fence had become an access point for criminals as they allegedly used it to break into people’s homes. “Residents bordering the Rietfontein Reserve are often woken up at night by perpetrators. We have decided to instal an alarm at our own cost because of security threats in the area,” Jacobsen said.

“We’ve been reporting and calling on City Parks to have the fence fixed but our plea fell onto deaf ears. Criminals use this border to break into our homes,” she claimed.

“There are reports of break-ins every now and then. We often find valuables like TV’s and appliances that had fallen when criminals jump the fence.”

Jacobsen claimed that residents reported the matter to City Parks two years ago and nothing had been done to address the issue.

“We have started an initiative to cut the grass along Rietfontein Reserve fence border because the facility is neglected and none of the municipal entities or department were interested to cut the grass there,” Jacobsen claimed.

Chairperson of the Friends of Rietfontein and a resident of Paulshof West, Margo Bansda said, “What has the annual budget for the reserve been spent on in the last few years? Improvements have been non-existent and the little bit of gardening does not cover the R4 million-plus that is budgeted annually for it,” Bansda said.

Spokesperson at Johannesburg City Parks, Jenny Moodley said, “This is a claim [insurance] and we had to follow due process to enable a payout before we commence the repair of the fence.”

Moodley concluded, “The relevant risk department is speaking to the insurer to

expedite the claim. A private security company was appointed to safeguard the facility in the meantime.”