A RUSTED chain wraps limply around the gate at the lower entrance of Durban North’s Japanese Gardens on Waterkant Road. The security spikes on the gate have been bent backwards, while the bars at the bottom of the gate have also been bent inwards to allow vagrants and criminals easy access into the municipal gardens. What’s more, across the road from the entrance gate lies a neat hole cut out of the fence bordering the M4 freeway, allowing an easy escape route for criminals.
These are just some of the failings of the gardens, which are set for a name change in the future to promote social cohesion. However, serious questions are now being raised about the lack of security measures at what is considered an asset for the municipality.
This follows the thirteenth armed robbery at the gardens (since March last year) last Wednesday, during which two visitors were accosted by men wielding bush knives. They were robbed and assaulted in the incident. The visitors tried fighting back, but were nevertheless robbed of their cellphones and an iPad. One of the visitors suffered lacerations to his hand from the knife attack, and also broke a finger in the assault.
The robbery followed the same pattern as all 13 of the previous incidents. All of the armed robberies have occurred near the bottom end of the park and have involved men holding knives or pangas. There have also been two stabbings in the gardens.
Durban North councillor, Shaun Ryley, slammed the municipality’s Parks and Recreation Department, which manages the gardens, for a lack of action, especially with regard to security measures. Ryley, who visited the site with Northglen News last Thursday, found a number of security loopholes.
“The spikes and bars on the gate have been bent backwards, which allows any would-be criminal easy access. This is now a matter of urgency, and the situation is ridiculous. The security measures currently in place are inadequate. The problem is now ongoing, and preventative measures must be implemented to put an end to these incidents.
“I have been assured by the parks department that there is a long-term plan for the gardens. While that is all well and good in terms of beautification, there needs to be a more concrete plan to address the security risks,” an exasperated Ryley said.
