Concerns over safety at Golden Harvest Park in North Riding have yet again appeared to deter park visitors.
Some park visitors have posted on the Friends of Golden Harvest Park Facebook page about crime incidents varying from attacks to muggings. Randburg Sun published an article in 2015, Is Golden Harvest Park safe?
Since then a few emails have been sent regarding crime incidents in the park.
In most cases, a police case number was not available for various reasons. Honeydew SAPS spokesperson Warrant Officer Karen Jacobs commented, “I can confirm that a lot of the incidents that allegedly took place within the Golden Harvest Park, do not get reported to the SAPS.” This poses a problem for the police due to the fact that police patrols and presence cannot be regulated, if they are not aware of a crime spike at the park.
In the beginning of May, WO Jacobs confirmed that only one incident was reported (case docket opened). Ward 101 Councillor Ralf Bittkau said, “Reporting the crimes to SAPS is… very helpful in giving us more weight to exert extra pressure on a very reluctant police force.”
The park gates are locked at 6pm and this should deter visitors from entry. Although, according to reports on the Facebook page and emails, incidents have happened in broad daylight.
FGHP chairperson, Adri Albertyn, confirmed, “I think very often it is hearsay, victims have to report the crimes, we have a monthly meeting with Honeydew SAPS and if we do not have accurate reporting of incidents, the police cannot react.”
Councillor Bittkau said, “SAPS has been asked to get rid of the dealers, to no avail. They seem to not be able to catch them yet, when I drive past there day or night, I see them openly dealing, sometimes even on the centre island.”
Councillor Bittkau continued, “Honeydew SAPS has seen fit to remove the best narcotic policemen that we had and even removed vehicles and patrols in order to bolster Cosmo City, leaving sector one totally understaffed.”
Drug dealing and drug dealing offences seem to still be a thorn in the side of residents. In 2014 Randburg Sun reported about the concerns of drug dealing inside and around the park, Concerns over drug dealings.
WO Jacobs said, “It sometimes happens that there is only one sector vehicle in some of the sectors due to shortage of manpower… but it does not influence service delivery as the sector vehicles assist each other with complaints.”
The Park Run that is hosted every weekend has done wonders for visibility inside the park. Albertyn explained how an average of 500 to 600 runners take to the park every weekend. “It helps create visibility and many of the runners use the park during the week.” However he advised,”Just keep your wits about you when enjoying the park.”
WO Jacobs added, “We are experiencing an increase again in
street robberies in the surrounding streets.” These hotspots are:
Olievenhout Street, Mable and Malibongwe roads. The problematic times
seem to be the period in the mornings and evening when people walk to
catch a taxi to work or home.
Details: Golden Harvest Park, 011 712 6600; Honeydew Police ,011 801 8613; Ward 101 Councillor Ralf Bittkau, 084 572 4002.
