“Sex” at Botanical Gardens, guards arrested for extortion
EMMERENTIA – Four security guards were arrested by Parkview police and charged with extortion and assault after accusing a couple of having sex at the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens on 5 August.
According to Parkview resident, Cindy Randall, her daughter and her partner were enjoying a picnic in the gardens when five security guards from the security company contracted by City Parks , approached them and accused them of public indecency by having sex in the gardens.
The young couple vehemently denied this accusation, but were nonetheless detained at the garden’s offices and allegedly ordered to pay fines of R1 500 each before they could be released. Their picnic goods were also confiscated.
Randall was notified of the incident in the meantime and rushed to assist the couple. Randall felt that the security guards were trying to extort money from her daughter and her partner and threatened legal action against them.
She tried to take photographs of the guards, as well as the log book – where she categorically stated the incident was not logged as it should have been. The guards then allegedly became aggressive and pushed Randall over while trying to grab her cellphone from her. She managed to get away from the guards and phoned Parkview police who acted swiftly and were there within minutes.
Spokesperson for Parkview police, Sergeant Lloyd Ramovha, was able to confirm the incident and stated that four of the five guards, aged between 22 and 33, were arrested and charged with extortion and assault.
“They appeared at Hillbrow Magistrates’ Court on 7 August,” said Ramovha.
“But the case has been postponed pending further investigation.”
City Parks responded on behalf of the Botanical Gardens and said the incident had been reported to the entity’s security management, the curator of the gardens, and has been logged with police from their side.
“It is, however, important to note that the manager responsible for private security at Joburg City Parks and Zoo facilities personally visits the gardens over weekends,” said City Parks spokesperson, Jenny Moodley.
“Spot checks are also carried out by the management of the security company, and further policing in the facility is complemented by random patrols by the park’s rangers, Metro police and Parkview police.”
Moodley stated that all policing structures maintain that there have been reports of public indecency, often in full view of other families picnicking, and very often security personnel are called in to clamp down on this type of behaviour.
“In this instance, both parties maintain that they are innocent of any wrongdoing and the matter is currently being dealt with by police who are better positioned to comment on the investigation,” said Moodley.
“Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo is committed to take tough action against the security company if the investigation indicates that the security officers acted outside their mandate and illegally.”
This was not the first time such an accusation was made against the park’s security.
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