Observatory Ridge fence damaged

Residents begged for fencing around the Observatory Ride in the hopes it would deter criminals and Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo agreed to install it.

But just days after it was installed however, someone cut a hole in it to access the ridge.

The EXPRESS previously reported that Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) committed to fencing off an open area following complaints from residents that crime was escalating on the ridge. The ridge is located along the Bez Valley, Yeoville and Observatory border.

A Bez Valley resident, who did not want his name published, said someone stole the gate on the Bez Valley side in 2008.

He said crime increased since then, especially during recent years. It was also alleged that there were a number of rapes on the ridge. Criminals apparently posed as priests to lure women onto the ridge to rape them. The women were forced to pay about R600 for a “prayer that has to be done”. People are also often robbed and tied up on the ridge.

The resident said criminals watch people from the ridge, break into vehicles and target people using the ridge as a short cut. Children who use the ridge as a short cut are allegedly sodomized.

During a public meeting held earlier this year, Ms Jenny Moodley the spokesperson for the JCPZ, said the ridge was visited by officials and it was decided the open area in Gascoyne Street would be fenced off.

Clr Carlos da Rocha, of ward 66, and the resident welcomed the JCPZ’s commitment.

They said the fencing would reduce crime on the ridge.

The fencing was installed about two weeks ago. “I was happy when the JCPZ committed to installing the fence. While the JCPZ cannot fence off every open space, they committed to fencing off this area. They used budget that was available to them. It was disappointing to find out that people damaged the fence,” said Clr Da Rocha.

Ms Moodley said, “We are disappointed that the fence we installed was damaged. We also installed fencing on the Yeoville side and heard there was a breach last weekend. We are at our wits end. Residents requested fencing on most of the open spaces in the area. From this incident it is evident that fencing is not a deterrent to criminals.”

She added that the JCPZ is looking at other ways of addressing problems in open spaces. “We are trying our best to address problems,” she said.