Lack of security at city’s pool park makes it a crime ticking time bomb
The park, fenced by palisades of not even a metre high on only one side of the property, shows evidence of a large number of homeless people having invaded the area.
POLOKWANE – A lack of proper barricading and operational hours at the city’s municipal swimming pool has, according to residents in the area, seen a tremendous increase in criminal elements being attracted to the park and surrounds.
The park, fenced by palisades of not even a metre high on only one side of the property, shows evidence of a large number of homeless people having invaded the area.
Evidence of fires being made, presumably for cooking purposes or to keep warm in winter, is found throughout the area, with bundles of belongings seen in multiple spots during a visit by Polokwane Observer on Monday.
Aggrieved locals say they have requested the Mayor, John Mpe to speed up a commitment made during the State of the city Address to fence off parks, with the addition of an effective gate and operating hours for the pool during the day.
Several residents in the area have reported break-ins and even armed robberies in the area in recent weeks, although this could not be confirmed with the police.
“The park also houses drug users, which is not an encouraging sight for the youth who spend their leisure time here,” resident Russel Griffiths remarked.
“The park has become a ticking time bomb in terms of criminal activities.”
During his city address at the Jack Botes hall last Wednesday, Mpe said there was “significant improvement” made in the park based on unannounced visits and surveillance, however, residents allege they have not witnessed any form of active policing in the area.
Mpe said the municipality has appointed 12 additional law enforcement officers, and that his paved the way for the establishment of a 24-hour system for patrolling municipal infrastructure in the city.
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In the next financial year, even more officers would be added to complement the current staff component.
Mpe also announced that in the 2023/24 financial year starting in July, the municipality will be installing cameras at key hotspots to pick up infrastructure theft and vandalism to alleviate the scourge of theft of municipal infrastructure.
