Management beefs up security at Jap Gardens

MANAGEMENT of the Japanese Gardens in Durban North has taken a stand against criminals after a spate of robberies, 17 in all since March last year. All of the robberies were committed near the bottom of the park near the Waterkant Road exit. Criminals then used a drain that starts inside the municipal garden and runs under the M4 to escape into.

New management at the park have now installed razor wire, which runs the length of the fence, they have also installed a metal grate that covers the stormwater tunnel.

It’s all part of fighting back and protecting the park, said new park supervisor at the Japanese Gardens, Alan Arumugam. He has also told Northglen News he intends to cut back the thick vegetation along the wall, which borders residential properties.

The need for the move to block one side of the stormwater tunnel was given further impetus when one of the contractors had a gun pointed to his head by a suspect trying to escape the park.

“He pointed the gun at the man’s face and ordered to be let through the grate. Since last year, we have had 17 robberies and we needed strong measures in place to prevent crime and deter the criminals. We identified the tunnel as being the major escape route, and in conjunction with the municipality, we were able to block it off without preventing water from getting through, because it is a stormwater tunnel.

“Unfortunately we were not able to block the other side of the tunnel, which opens onto Fairway. I’ve also seen criminals push over our slatted walls onto the razor wire, which we installed on the ground, to try and enter the gardens. We are now trying to raise the razor wire fence as high as the walls,” Arumugam said.