A breach of tranquillity

Golden Harvest Park, a once peaceful setting, was marred by its first violent mugging on 2 February.

This after Dave Levin (70) was hit on the head with a rock after resisting his attacker at knifepoint between 10.30am and 11.00am while walking his dogs.

Levin’s cellphone, car keys and glasses were taken. “I was sitting at a bench with my two Yorkshire terriers near a table,” he said.

“My dogs started barking and I turned to see two men charging at me. One took out a knife while the other grabbed my keys, phone and glasses from the table before he jumped into the bush.

“I instinctively grabbed the knife from the remaining man and cut my hand. He then threw three rocks at me. One hit my shoulder, I ducked under one and the third hit me above my right eye.

Passersby called security and drove Levin home to fetch his spare car keys. On his return, security guards told Levin his attackers had returned to the park, presumably to take his car, but the guards prevented them from entering.

“I went to Olivedale Clinic to get about eight stitches above my eye and six in my hand,” said Levin. “I have not experienced any trauma but they say it might still come.”

An official from the park, who did not wish to be named said people have been mugged by criminals using knives, but this was the first instance when someone was actually hurt.

He could not say how many people had been mugged in the park because victims often did not report the incidents.

However, he said those who were mugged were usually mugged on weekdays before 7am. There were security guards at the gate and park wardens patrolled the park about once every two days. The police sometimes monitored the park and had been monitoring the park more frequently since December.

Ward 101 Councillor Ralf Bittkau said he would raise the issue of muggings in the park with the Sector One Community Policing Forum.

Details: Golden Harvest Park 011 712 6600, Ralf Bittkau 083 508 8988.