AfriForum neighbourhood watch secures Moot railroads
“Our aim was to secure the railroad that runs through the Moot,” he said.
AfriForum neighbourhood watch in the Moot launched an action campaign two weeks ago to protect the local community.
This security campaign took place in two phases.
“The first phase that began on 25 July, was a collaboration between AfriForum‘s east Moot neighbourhood watch and other Moot neighbourhood watch organisations,” said chairperson of the East Moot neighbourhood watch Andries Opperman.
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“Our aim was to secure the railroad that runs through the Moot.”
Opperman said the area patrolled was from the Queenswood train station to Gezina.
“The goal of this action was to identify all the access routes to the railroad,” he said.
“This after we realised through previous patrols and feedback that the railroad was the main access to the residential areas for criminals.”
Opperman named the railroad in Kilnerpark as an example.
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Several pedestrians were recently robbed under the bridge that runs next to the railroad on the corner of Wilkinson and Gane streets.
“This is but one more example of criminals coming through the railroad to rob people then flee via the railroad,” he said.
He said during the foot patrol two weeks ago, several access points and holes in the fence were identified.
This led to the action to begin closing up these points last Saturday.
“We tended to three of the biggest holes, one of which was created by Prasa as an access point to repair the railroad, around the Niek Strydom bridge,” he said.
He said the initial plan was to close up the holes.
“While we were busy with one of the holes, Prasa workers came along and I spoke to them,” he said.
“According to them, they were also busy with one of their own projects to secure the railroad and that was why they created the hole.”
Opperman said the neighbourhood watch put up a gate at this point to allow Prasa workers access to the railroad.
Opperman thanked everyone who was involved in the project.
“These people once again gave up their Saturday, to keep the community safe. Not just with this action, but with normal patrols as well.
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“They really give [of] themselves with abandon to the community to secure the area.”
He said that not all the identified holes had been closed yet.
“We need the community to donate to the cause if we are to continue,” he said.
Opperman said the effort last Saturday was thanks to donations from the community.
“I asked for help on a community WhatsApp group and it took off from there,” he said.
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