Ongoing muggings have been taking place on the corner of Fifth Road and Malibongwe Drive at the bridge in Northwold.
According to North Riding resident Pamela Wood, on 13 December two men accosted a woman on the bridge and stole her handbag. “A security guard from a nearby complex leaped into action and tackled one of the attackers who then wielded a 20mm knife with a sharp blade and made his escape into the Golden Harvest Park,” said Wood. “I understand there was a another incident like this just before Christmas.”
Wood said something urgent needed to be done by city council, the police and other relevant authorities about this as this route was used by dozens of pedestrians every day, many of them unaccompanied women.
“The criminals escape into the thick undergrowth close to the bushes and disappear into the park. There needs to be protection around this area, perhaps razor wire to prevent easy access to the road and back into the safety of the park.”
Ward 101 councillor Ralf Bitkau stated that the Total Service Station on the corner of Malibongwe and President Fouché drives owned the private property on Fifth Road and had taken the responsibility of cleaning the area, and getting rid of the trees which had become a hideout for the criminals. The action of the service station will be a means to prevent the crime in the area.
“I care about the safety of the residents and think it is good that Total has done something to prevent crime in the community,” said Bitkau.
Bitkau has also addressed the matter with the Honeydew Police Station, requesting more patrols in the area. The Honeydew police are yet to respond.
Details: Crime Line 32211, Crime Stop 0860 10111.
