Overgrowth next to the road at the corner of End and Rabie streets in Lyttelton is finally set to be cleared. According to the local community policing forum (CPF) this intersection has become one of the worst affected crime hotspots in Centurion.
On 6 February, a mother with her two children were allegedly hijacked at the intersection. An eyewitness claimed to have seen a woman driving a City Golf being hijacked around 21:00. The eyewitness then claimed two teenagers jumped out of the vehicle and fled the scene. The hijackers then drove off with the mother still inside the car.
An extensive search was launched, with residents and CPF members searching through the overgrowth for the children, but to no avail. The search efforts have since been abandoned.
Criminals have also used the bushy area as a hiding place and getaway route after committing crimes in the area.
Democratic Alliance (DA) ward councillor Clive Napier said he has been trying to get the overgrowth cleared for some time. “On several occasions in the past I have made requests to the municipality to thin out the vegetation along the Hennops River between Gerhard and Rabie streets. These requests have included the removal of invader vegetation and the ‘lollipopping’ of the trees to assist in crime prevention and the area becoming an escape route or hideaway for criminals.”
Now, after months, the vegetation is set to be cleared. “Clearing and cutting of the trees at the corner of End and Rabie streets will be carried out before the end of next week (20 February),” said Selby Bokaba, executive director of strategic communication at Tshwane metro.
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