Jozi Trails aims to keep trail users safe

Management of the Jozi Trails and the Linden Community Police Forum are encouraging the community, residents associations, other community police forums, and security companies to engage with them to kick-start their plans to keep the trails and neighbouring parks safe from crime.

Acting general manager of the Jozi Trails David Kramer said that the main difficulty management faces are that they alone cannot patrol the entire 37km of the trails.

“Many frustrated users have contacted us asking what the plan is to help alleviate the problem of crime along the trails. We are working very closely with Joburg City Parks and Zoo management to engage with Park Rangers, CPFs, residents associations, the police and private security in a plan that will help to mitigate the threat of crime by increasing the reporting of crime and increasing visible security along the trails. This plan is currently awaiting further feedback from the City,” he said.

He suggested that the reporting of crime helps the Jozi Trails management, the CPF, security companies and the police to monitor crime levels and where the hotspots are to increase crime-fighting visibility in the crackdown and deterring of crime.

Jozi Trails security coordinator Owen Cook said that when the Covid-19 lockdown hit last year, they noticed that the levels of crime along the trails and parks dropped, but as the levels have been relaxed, they have seen a sharp increase.

Both the Trails and the CPF, who work closely tighter, have noted a large number of serious crimes in the Delta Park section of the trails in the past few months.

“These are the crimes that we know about. A lot of the time, crimes go unreported, and it is our drive to encourage users to report crimes, no matter how small or large,” said Cook.

Linden CPF Sector 2 chairperson Annelize Tichauer said, “The Jozi Trails run through a wide area that our CPF is concerned with, and it is important to collaborate. As the CPF, we are aware of issues of crime affecting the users of

Delta Park and the trails, and are always interested in any plans to help curb it.”
Trails management has been in discussions with various residents associations and security companies to create a united concerted effort to formulate a plan to help alleviate the issue of crime.

“If we hear about an incident that has yet to be reported, we try our best to trace the victim, and we try to get as many cases as possible reported. This is to monitor the levels of crime and establish where the hotspots are,” she continued.

In the plan, a committee will be established with representatives of RAs and CPFs to discuss issues of crime and where they are occurring with the police and security companies from all areas along the trails.

“Working together, we can make a difference. We all have the same interests at heart, and our goal is to help our community feel safe when using the parks and trails. The initiative aims to take back the parks from the grips of criminals in a long-term solution,” said Kramer.

Trails management encourages RAs and CPFs who have not been in contact with them to do so to be part of the conversation.

“The call is for everyone to be involved with this conversation, including private companies and community members,” added Kramer.

Tichauer also encouraged responsible park use, namely not openly displaying your valuables that can attract potential criminals, walking in groups or using the park and trails in the dark.

“You must be aware of your surroundings at all times, and your security is not always someone else’s responsibility,” she added.

A dedicated page on the Jozi Trails website issues safety tips on how users can stay safe when using the trails, and a platform to alert the management to issues of crime.

Details: Visit Jozi Trails at www.jozitrails.co.za