This successful outcome has resulted in police encouraging the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) to cut the overgrowth at Danie Taljaard Park – an area which has seen several criminal acts over the years.
READ: Couple robbed at Danie Taljaard Park
In May, last year, the Benoni Community Policing Forum (CPF), police, NGOs, the EMM and various concerned groups started cutting vegetation in the Chris Rencken Park, behind Deneys Conradie Residentia.
This was to discourage criminal elements from sprouting up and seeking refuge in the overgrowth.
“Since the community cleaned the area, it has been without crime,” said Col Martin van Nieuwenhuizen, acting Benoni SAPS station commander.
He said murder, smash-and-grabs and drug abuse were some of the crimes previously perpetrated in the vicinity.
Now, police have their eye on Danie Taljaard Park, which is just off Snake Road, near the N12.
For years, police have warned the public to stay away from the park for their own safety.
“Local fisherman go there with their families and they get held up by groups of five to six people who are armed with firearms or knives,” said van Nieuwenhuizen.
The last incident occurred in late November, when an elderly couple were robbed and assaulted.
They had stopped at the rubbish dump when a group of assailants approached them.
The woman was stabbed and the husband was hit in the chest.
Van Nieuwenhuizen said a lack of visibility and illegal mining operations in the area breed an environment in which criminals target people.
He said the community is also partly to blame for opening themselves up to victimisation when they illegally dump rubbish in the park.
Van Nieuwenhuizen is proposing that the EMM cut the vegetation and erect signs warning people not to enter the area.
He said police do conduct patrols at the park around the clock.
EMM spokesperson Themba Gadebe said the municipality takes note of the request and will give attention to the area within 14 days.
