Safety at parks

RANDBURG – Community is called upon to be vigilant at parks during the festive season.

Ward 117 Councillor Tim Truluck says that there is a high number of vagrants living in secluded areas of Delta Park which makes people easy targets to criminals. File Photo.

Through the year, a number of instances of crime occurred at parks in Randburg, which subsequently cast a negative light on them. As residents questioned whether or not it is safe to venture there with their families, some ward councillors were asked to share their thoughts on the parks and what the community should be looking out for at these parks.

Ward 117 Councillor, Tim Truluck gave insight on parks in his area:

Zoo Lake: law enforcement at this park is very low and and its riddled with illegal drinking.The park has also faced instances of muggings and rape.
Delta-Park has lots of vagrants living in secluded areas which makes it easy for one to fall prey to criminals. Law enforcement here is only available upon request.
Montgomery and Braamfontein Spruit: also have lots of vagrant groups living on river banks and storm water drains.There is also a dangerously high e.coli count in the rivers due to leaking sewers
Verity Park: upgrades to this park have been hard to achieve.

Ward 102 Councillor, David Potter shared this about parks in his area:

Flagship Park – corner Main Street and Park Avenue – is very safe and fenced along Jan Smuts Avenue.
They have had no incidents. It is maintained by Councillor Potter.
It is very well lit at night and well used by all members of the local and surrounding communities.
We have had a vagrant sleeping in one boundary but we logged this with the City Parks Warden.
Riverside Park
We are challenged in this area with the recyclers that have set camp along the spruit, litter and pollute the parks and waters.
The resident associations that share this have spent thousands of rands on cleaning and removing all the rubbish the recyclers leave behind yet, they continue to make a mess.
They have had incidents of cyclists who have been robbed on the Braamfontein Spruit but not in the Riverside Park.

Linden Police spokesperson, Carol Mulamu said that she urges community members to be very vigilant.

“One must not go to parks alone and you must take note of the people around so to report any unsavoury characters,” said Mulamu.