Suspicious fire at park raises concern

Rose Johnson of the Friends of the Field and Study Park is convinced the fire is a result of a raid conducted by the police.

“There were three fires burning in different places on the bank,” she explained. “Why are we wasting police time and vehicles harassing these people when they could be out catching the crooks who use vagrants as cover?” asked Johnson.

Wayne Minnaar, spokesperson for the Metro police said, “JMPD [Metro police] do not burn people’s blankets.”

He said there was an operation taking place at the park, including the river banks. Minnaar added the operation was aimed at charging people who slept inside public parks. “This is a City of Johannesburg bylaw,” he explained.

Johnson claimed she had a short conversation with one of the police officers at the scene of the fire who apparently told Johnson that the vagrants were responsible for the fire, not them.

“I don’t know, but it doesn’t make sense that the vagrants would be burning their own things,” added Heather Oosthuizen, a Parkmore resident who was at the scene of the fire.

Johnson explained that the dry grass caused the fire to spread through the Forest Farm fence, a care centre. “They were forced to evacuate the centre and their cottages, and call the fire brigade for assistance,” said Johnson. “This caused great distress to those living there.”

Johnson added, “These raids achieve nothing. Nothing positive has come out of them. At the park, it’s the vagrants who are helping with the security. Twice already they have chased criminals along that side.”

Ward 103 councillor Vincent Earp, said the raids on the parks are a direct result of complaints by members of the public who use the park and witness the constant disregard for the City’s bylaws. “The City officials when carrying out their duties should however never burn and destroy people’s meagre possessions and such action can never be condoned.”