Collective clean-up of Delta Park

The initiative was a collaborative effort between the Blairgowrie Community Association, the Parktown North and Parkhurst Security Association, and several security companies.

A group of volunteers spent several hours clearing Delta Park of rubbish, clutter and other miscellaneous things gathered by the vagrants who have illegally occupied the area.

Delta Park and the adjoining Braamfontein Spruit borders the suburbs of Blairgowrie, Victory Park, Craighall Park and Parkhurst. The park has been illegally occupied by a group of vagrants posing a nuisance to the public space.

Gavin Frayne, a committee member on the Blairgowrie Community Association, headed the initiative and invited residents from neighbouring suburbs to volunteer and assist with the clean-up.

“There were about 40 plus people [participating]. I arrived at 8.30am with three officers from the Johannesburg Metro Police Department and walked through the bird sanctuary. [We] spoke to about four vagrants [informing them that they had to vacate the area] and at about 9.30am the rest of the [volunteers] arrived,” he said.

Frayne indicated that it was necessary to confront the vagrants first with the Metro police and employees from the security companies as they are, at times, known to be aggressive.

Frayne also stated that the four ton truck used for the clean-up was fully loaded by the end of the day.

Darren Greenberg, area manager for Parkhurst and Parktown North, stated that among the things found (gathered by the vagrants) were knives, designer clothes, phone chargers, GPS units, tools which could be used for house break-ins and a realistic-looking pellet gun.

Greenberg also noted that it was regularly reported that suspects involved in crime incidents in the area, from petty theft to armed robberies, were often spotted running towards the Braamfontein Spruit as the trail leads to Delta Park and is a common escape route.

“There were about 19 to 25 vagrants living there,” said Greenberg, who indicated that repeat efforts in the future will hopefully discourage vagrants from occupying the area.

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