Residents petition to secure Melville Koppies

A petition campaign was recently organised by residents and community leaders in the suburbs around the Melville Koppies. The petition called for the MMCs of Parks and Environment, and Safety and Security at The City of Johannesburg to take the current crime situation in and around the koppies seriously and take urgent action in protecting this precious natural heritage site and the surrounding communities.

Petition tables were set up next to May’s Chemist in Main Road, and corner of 7th Street and 4th Avenue, Melville on 11 April, from 9am to 12pm.

Councillor for Ward 87 Amanda Forthsythe was very passionate about the intentions behind the petition campaign, “We basically want the City of Joburg to start taking some responsibility. Up until now, all the initiatives to protect and secure the koppies and surroundings have been private and/or community based. I firmly believe that the more people use the space, the safer it will become. But we do need the City and SAPS to take some responsibility for securing and monitoring it. The community cannot do it alone anymore,” she said.

Forthsythe went on to explain that officials need to visit the Koppies and asses the current situation properly. A number of issues were improved access control such as gates, fencing and improved lighting in some areas. Another request mentioned in the petition was that City Parks rangers, as well as the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) need to patrol the koppies regularly.

Chairperson of the Friends of Melville Koppies Wendy Carstens was very supportive of the petition campaign and the need for security concerns to be addressed. “Unfortunately, because of the security situation, we now employ CSS security to accompany all our organised Sunday hiking groups. Volunteer patrollers also assist with this security. We appreciate that SAPS and JMPD are hard pressed with crime in all the suburbs, but it appears that Melville Koppies West is a hiding place for some of the thugs.”

Carstens went on to explain that they would welcome regular patrols by the SAPS, JMPD and JCPZ. “The Koppies is a place of beauty which we should all be able to enjoy in peace. Responsible citizens should be able to enjoy the Koppies without fear of being apprehended by opportunistic or organised thugs,” she said.