Efforts to fight criminals in Melville Koppies West

Melville criminals hideout burned down.

EPWP and the community burn grass in Melville Koppies West, after residents alleged it was used by criminals as a hideout.

Residents alleged that criminals are using an open space with overgrown grass along the Melville Koppies West, as a hideout.

The community together with Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers and Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, burned this criminals’ nest to the ground on 21 August.

Phillip Mkhombo, the Nature Conservator for the Protected Areas Unit from the City Parks and Zoo said, “We need to increase visibility and we will try maintain it. We had to burn the bushes and grass which have become a hideout for the criminals who have committed several crimes in this area.”

He said that due to the bushes, the area has become unapproachable to the residents.

“Together with the residents, we decided to start a drive to remove these bushes so as to curb the crime in the area. Illegal substances were found hidden here. Also criminals used to hide here waiting for the nearby house-owners to leave their houses,” said Mkhombo.

He also added that some property owners have complained to them about criminals allegedly breaking-in to their houses and escaping to this vacant overgrown land.

“There is too much crime, and vagrants have already started taking over the place. In terms of the city’s by-laws, people are not allowed to create squatter camps anywhere around Koppies because it is a proclaimed nature reserve,” Mkhombo explained.

Noleen Mattera, stakeholder, public and media relations at the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) said the cleaning of the place was part of the three days blitz program which involves the JCPZ units: Conservation Management, Ecosystem Enhancement and Open Space Management and Regional Parks Maintenance.