Security has been beefed up at Rhodes Park, following the rape of a woman and the murder of two men on Saturday evening.
The Cleveland SAPS communications officer, Constable Mpho Mashakane, said just before 7pm on the day, 12 men attacked two couples who were sitting at the park next to the lake.
“One suspect raped one woman, while the other woman fought off her attackers. The suspects also tied the husbands’ hands and feet with their trousers. The suspects threw the men into the lake. The suspects took their victims’ cellular phones and wallets before fleeing the scene,” she said.
Const Mashakane said after the suspects fled the scene, the women screamed for help until a person passing by noticed and called the police.
She said on Sunday officials from the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo and the SAPS met to look at ways to improve security at the park.
“As part of the agreement, City Parks will closed all the exits we think may be used by criminals after attacking visitors at the park. The JMPD and SAPS will improve their visibility and will patrol at the park until it is late, especially on the weekends,” said Const Mashakane.
She urged residents to not stay at the park until late in the evening.
The City Parks spokesperson, Ms Jenny Moodley, said as part of improving security at the park, her department will replace the panels which appear to have been deliberately removed to allow access to criminals.
“There is the possibility that these suspects used the water tunnel between the soccer fields and the lake,” she said.
Ms Moodley said following the outcomes of the investigations, action will be taken to hinder suspects from using the tunnel.
She said some of the seven exits from the park will be closed to control movement into and from the park.
“We tried it before but some people were unhappy about it. But we have to bite the bullet and make sure that some exits are closed permanently. We appeal to residents to leave the park before 6pm, as the parks are not well-lit,” said Ms Moodley.
She said there will be collaboration between all the security stakeholders at the part to address safety concerns.
“Park rangers do not have powers to enforce the bylaws. They are our eyes and ears. That is why you normally see them with JMPD officers all the time when they are working. They depend on the JPMD to enforce the bylaws,” she said.
The community of Kensington and its surroundings will hold a walk at the park on Wednesday, between 4:30pm and 5:30pm. The slogan of the march is, “This is our space we need to take it”.
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