Tshwane cyclists sick of crime, call for police visibility
“We are concerned about the lack of regard and courtesy motorists show for runners and cyclists on the road.”
Local cyclists and joggers have called on the Tshwane metro and the police to protect them.
The group, that organised itself under the name Safer Routes Forum said it felt vulnerable following a spike in crime in various areas of Tshwane.
Spokesperson Phillip Ralehlaka told Rekord the group had noted a noticeable high number of crimes against runners and cyclists in the last couple of months.
The group rode from Jean Crossing in Centurion to Tshwane House in Pretoria CBD on Friday in protest to raise awareness of the problems they faced.
He said these include bike thefts, cellphone snatchings, bicycle hijackings and robbery at knife or gunpoint were rife.
Ralehlaka said the hotspots were Boschkop, Groenkloof Nature Reserve, Highveld, Irene, Jean Avenue, Lyttleton, Migmaite, Moreleta, Olievenhoutbosch, Van Ryneveld, Waterkloof, Witch-Hazel Avenue and Solomon Mahlangu Drive.
He said this was against the backdrop of ongoing clashes between cyclists/joggers and motorists.
“We are concerned about the lack of regard and courtesy motorists show for runners and cyclists on the road.
“There have been a few notable incidents where runners and cyclists have either been critically injured and/or brutally killed at the hands of vehicle operators on the road.”
Ralehlaka said the group could not just sit and watch the onslaught.
He said the group demanded increased police visibility at all crime hotspots.
“We request police patrols at crime hotspots between 05:00-09:00 and 17:00-19:00.”
He also urged the metro further to urgently attend to other problems that posed a danger to cyclists and joggers on the road such as potholes.
“Potholes are very dangerous for cyclists. We fall and crash, sometimes it leads to hospitalisation. Fixing a puncture on the road also presents criminals an opportunity to pounce on us.
“Good roads mean the cyclists are always on the move.”
Ralehlaka said police visibility, patrol of hostspots, use of technology such as CCTVs, the group believed, would reduce crime.
He said the group also demanded cycling lanes.
Cyclist Jose Franzao said recently a friend fell victim to crime while exercising.
Franzao said he and two friends were cycling along Solomon Mahlangu Drive around 05:45 when they were attacked by four men.
“We were riding in a northerly direction towards Lynnwood Road and on the uphill between Old Farm Road and Disselboom Avenue,” he said.
“There was a car parked on the yellow line and as we approached four men got out of the car.”
He said they pushed him off his bike and attempted to take it but he fought back.
Police spokesperson Daniel Mavimbela said the case was reported to the Garsfontein police but did not say what police were doing to curb the crime.
Bull security spokesperson French Jooste said the theft of bicycles in residential areas was also on the rise.
“The spike started in middle-February and has drastically increased since,” he said.
Tshwane MMC for Community Safety Grandi Theunissen vowed that his department would look into the demands of the cyclists and joggers.
Theunissen said he would arrange a meeting with the leaders of the group to discuss their demands further.
“It is our duty to protect you and ensure you keep on excising.”
He said the metro was also addressing the issue of potholes, and would look into de-bushing along routes.
SAPS said they would also meet the group.
WATCH:
ALSO READ: Two Atteridgeville men arrested for possession of illegal firearms
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
