Crime-fighting efforts yield positive results at Koedoe Park

Residents in Wierda Park are pleased with the progress in curbing crime at Koedoe Park which has long been troubled by illegal activities.

The revitalisation of the park has become a community effort, spearheaded by the Wierda Park Residents’ Association (WPRA) in collaboration with local security companies and the Community Policing Forum (CPF).

WPRA chairperson Liza Vorster expressed her satisfaction with the improvements.

“We’ve been cutting overgrown trees and grass to keep it short so that the area can be clean.”

She said the initiative was a direct response to community concerns about safety, particularly the need to remove tree branches that served as hiding spots for illicit activities.

Vorster shared that another suspect was arrested recently following the arrest made during a police operation on February 14.

“One of the other problems that we have now is that some squatters have started to return, and they have erected their housing structures again.”

Vorster emphasised the importance of sustained police presence in the park and urged the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) to continue their efforts.

“As residents and as the community, we are limited in terms of what we can do to keep that park clean.”

She noted the positive atmosphere during an organised soccer match in the park this past weekend.

“It was so nice to see an organised soccer game happening for the first time in a long time and to see that the park was being utilised for what it was intended, which is recreational purposes.”

However, despite recent efforts, some challenges, including an ongoing drug problem, persist.

Vorster recalled a troubling incident on March 4, when she witnessed a woman injecting herself with drugs in the park.

“We need a specialised drug intervention squad that can go in and help with this whole situation because drugs are a huge problem in Wierdapark,” she said.

She also voiced her concerns about the learners from Springvale Primary School who walk in and around the park being exposed to drug-related equipment.

Chairperson of the Wierdaburg Sector 1 CPF Daniel van Rooyen recently told Rekord they have an ongoing collaboration with the SAPS to address issues at Koedoe Park.

“We have been working very closely with the police in formulating a strategy to address the issues in Koedoe Park, which include a rampant presence of drug dealers and users.

“We do frequent patrols around the area, and police have done operations where they have also interrogated the loiterers and drug users that sit around in that area,” he said.

He added that plans were in place to curb the selling of drugs in the area, but they cannot be revealed at this stage.

Van Rooyen described the strategic patrols and operations as essential steps in curbing criminal activity.

He also urged residents to remain vigilant, including at the nearby Wierda Park Shopping Centre, where criminal activity is rife.

The efforts to combat crime at Koedoe Park have already seen results, as a male suspect was arrested on February 14 for possession and dealing in drugs.

The arrest occurred during an integrated drug operation at the park, which aimed to address the growing drug problem in the area.

At the time, police spokesperson Johan van Dyk confirmed that the operation was the result of extensive intelligence-gathering efforts.

“The collaboration was between the SAPS, the CPF, local security companies, and the Tshwane Metro Police,” he said.

Van Dyk said the operation was meticulously planned after community concerns about drug-related offences were raised during engagement sessions.

“An action plan was developed and implemented to tackle the drug problem,” he explained.

Based on the gathered intelligence, the operation led to the arrest of the suspect, who was found in possession of five sachets containing cocaine and heroin, as well as an undisclosed amount of cash.

Van Dyk emphasised the importance of community collaboration with such initiatives.

The Tshwane District Commissioner, Major-General Samuel Thine, also commended the police involved in the operation for their efforts and encouraged similar operations to combat drug-related activities.

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