Voortrekker Monument: Guard dog helps apprehend first suspect

One of the new guard dogs at the Voortrekker Monument this week assisted in arresting a fleeing suspect.

The suspect was the first to be apprehended by head of security Danie Dreyer, security guard Elias Vanekeni and Stevo the guard dog since the Voortrekker Monument recently welcomed six of 14 new guard dogs donated to protect the property following an increase in crime in and around the national heritage site.

The monument adopted various security measures, such as dog patrols on the site, rangers patrolling the nature reserve area, horses patrolling the field and camera systems.

Voortrekker Monument spokesperson Gerhard Pretorius was pleased when the new security measures paid off.

This week, the Voortrekker Monument’s Wenkando security team assisted the Tshwane Metro Police Department in arresting one of the men who fled when they were stopped at a metro police roadblock on the Ben Schoeman highway, at the entrance to the centre of Pretoria.

“When officers pulled over a vehicle in the roadblock, a group of men jumped out of the vehicle and fled. One of the men jumped over the boundary wire of the Voortrekker Monument and disappeared into the forest,” said Pretorius.

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He said the Wenkando security team responded immediately and began searching the property with dog patrols in the area where the man jumped the border fence.

“After an hour and a half of searching, the two members of the security team [Dreyer and Vanekeni] apprehended the man and handed him over to the metro police.

“According to the information received by the monument, the man is believed to be an illegal immigrant and was then taken to the Pretoria central police station,” said Pretorius.

Pretorius thanked the role players for their swift reaction to ensure the safety of the monument. This year, two staff members, two French tourists and a security guard were robbed at the monument. The increase in crime saw the Voortrekker Monument launching a petition to force the City of Tshwane to help replace the fences around the property.

It is believed a group of suspects gained entry into the property through the flimsy fence which has deteriorated, is rusty and in some sections reinforced with tree branches. The group of suspects were allegedly responsible for other crimes in the area.

Police spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo had not commented by the time of going to print.

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