Clean-up call receives overwhelming response
At least 200 people pitched up to help clean the Chris Rencken Park on Saturday (May 23).
The park, next to the Lakes Hotel and Conference Centre, in Lakefield, was densely overgrown and many crime prevention members believed this to be the reason for much of the crime in the area.
The clean-up, which ran from 8am to 5pm, was organised to reduce crime in the area, as the thick vegetation gives possible hiding places for criminals.
In the process of the clean-up, several illegal shacks were discovered and taken down.
“There are people staying in the park here, we’re not sure that they are criminals, but this area is rife with common robbery, robbery and hijackings, which we hope to cut down on,” said Const Zunickha Essakjee from Benoni
SAPS.
“Smash and grabs and robberies are high in this area, because the criminals can hide in the bushes,” said Nogz Moonsammy from CPF.
“This park is our project today, but this is an ongoing operation, we hope to make it a monthly event, cleaning parks across Benoni.”
Residents, NGOs, SAPS, CPF and EMM all joined in to clear the park of enough vegetation, so that the entire area would be visible again.
“The parks department is one of the most underfunded departments in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM), so we as councillors are very grateful to the community and all the participating organisations for this initiative, but EMM also sent help, in the form of waste removal staff and equipment,” said Clr Mary Goby, of Ward 28.
Many of the participants were there as part of a local non-profit organisation (NPO), trying to do their part for the community.
“I’m very protective of women, so I want to help here to eliminate rape, which happens here a lot,” said Nico Grobler from the Manger Care Centre.
“I feel if the park is clean and attracts more people who enjoy it, it will eradicate crime in the area, because they (visitors to the park) aren’t single, easy targets anymore,” said Laurence van Vuren.
Furthermore, Const Essakjee said the wood collected from the clean-up, would be donated to the community of Lindelane, to help them stay warm during winter.
A follow-up to the clean-up campaign will be held in the same area on June 6.
The organisers are urging members of the public to join in the follow-up to clean the park.
Click here to visit the Benoni CPFs website.
Click here to visit the Manger Care Centre website.
Click here to visit the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality website.
