Security measures taken lessen crime
“This has been a joint operation and crime definitely seems to have lessened in this area,” said Bruno Barradas, co-owner of Panorama Shopping Centre.
PANORAMA SHOPPING CENTRE – After discussions with Glenvista and Mulbarton CPF’s, Mondeor SAPS, Ward 23 councillor Paul Smit, Rand Water representatives, Leslie Hoy and Bafana Mbende, D&D Tactical’s Andrew Ledwick and the co-owner of Panorama Shopping Centre, Bruno Barradas, in March earlier this year, work has begun on pallisading off Rand water’s land on Kliprivier Drive, adjacent to Panorma Shopping Centre.
Hoy (Manager Environmental Management Services Group Shared Services Rand Water) and Mbende (Acting Head Protective Services Rand Water), said at the March meeting, “Rand Water owns two properties adjacent to Kliprivier Drive, one of them opposite Panorama Shopping Centre. Some other surrounding properties are owned by City Parks. A proposed concrete palisade fence is being looked at by Rand Water on one portion of land, which will be phase one of the eventual plan. We are aware of dumping on our land and have ascertained a fence will help alleviate this as well as vagrants who periodically try illegally live here and we believe could be , selling drugs.
“We presently do patrols during the day on our land and we are aware of vagrants who are living here.”
The palisade fencing will eventually fence off most of the land adjacent to Panorama Shopping Centre, once the project is complete.
Andrew Ledwick from D&D Tactical said in March he would see to it that a camera would be erected on Jordi Road to the entrance of the shopping centre, which would provide beneficial surveillance on what’s happening in the area.
The camera is now up and Barradas said, “We’ve noticed a marked improvement of not as many hawkers selling their goods and the vagrants who normally sat along Jordi Road, have begun to lessen. This can only benefit the shopping centre, and the sale of illegal drugs will hopefully stop altogether in the very near future.”
Barradas also said, “I’d like to convey my thanks to all the parties concerned for the work being undertaken, which will assist greatly to put a stop to the vagrants living on Rand Water’s land and the drug sellers. The concerned parties will be meeting again in a few weeks to reassess the situation.”
