Groenkloof residents have welcomed progress in efforts to address cable theft along the Unisa boundary, with two new cameras being installed and sections of overgrown municipal land cleared.

The developments follow ongoing concerns from the Groenkloof Residents’ Association (GRA) that cable thieves are targeting the area and that dense vegetation has provided cover for criminals.

According to the GRA, poles for two new cameras are currently being installed at Unisa. Freedom Front Plus (FF+) candidate Anne-Marie Sparg said the cameras will be used to improve surveillance of the area and assist with efforts to prevent further cable theft.

The association also thanked Unisa for repairing sections of its cement palisade perimeter fence.

Sections of municipal land outside the Unisa perimeter have also recently been cleared, with the GRA describing the work as a significant step forward after years of concerns about the condition of the area.

The association thanked Sparg for her support with its community upliftment programme application and for persistently raising the issue of overgrown vegetation with the City of Tshwane.

She said the progress showed what could be achieved through continued engagement between residents, institutions and the authorities.

“After so many years, we are so grateful to everyone who helped us tackle this problem,” said Sparg.

While the recent clean-up has been welcomed, the association said there was still more work to be done.

According to Sparg, the municipal team responsible for the clean-up has indicated that it is willing to assist with spraying herbicide over the sections that have already been cleared.

However, Sparg said GRA residents would need to provide the herbicide.

The association has offered to co-ordinate the collection of contributions from residents and purchase the required herbicide. It said the treatment was needed urgently before the rainy season, when vegetation is expected to grow rapidly again.

The latest developments build on the GRA’s previous efforts to improve security along the Unisa boundary.

The GRA has called on residents to contribute towards purchasing the herbicide so the cleared sections can be treated and maintained.

GRA spokesperson Francois Geringer previously highlighted the value of surveillance cameras in areas vulnerable to cable theft, saying cameras at one hotspot had helped prevent incidents there for an extended period.

“The installation of the two additional cameras is expected to strengthen surveillance at another section of the boundary,” said Geringer.

The clean-up is also expected to improve visibility and make it easier for cameras and security personnel to monitor the area.

Geringer also previously warned residents against confronting suspected cable thieves, encouraging communities to report suspicious activity to security structures instead.

The latest work represents an ongoing effort involving residents, Unisa, the municipality and community representatives to address the security and infrastructure challenges along the boundary.

Sparg said the recent progress was a positive start, but stressed that continued maintenance would be necessary to prevent the area from becoming overgrown again.

Rekord contacted the metro for comment, but no reply had been received by time of publication.

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