Police members from all over Joburg, including Hillbrow, Jeppe, Linden and even Rosebank’s own Parkiew stations, congregated at Zoo Lake on 23 September in order to gather for their official Heritage Day celebrations.
Many of the officers were not in uniform as they were allowed to wear civil and traditional clothing pertaining to their respective heritage to the event.
Nonetheless, event goers were photographed parking their cars, both marked and unmarked all over the park grounds, lighting braai fires and opening beers, wines and ciders while music blared over the loud speakers.
Councillor for Ward 117, Tim Truluck, was less than impressed with the soiree and expressed his dismay at police’s conduct at the event.
“I am astounded that one of the organisations that are meant to uphold the law are actually breaking the open spaces bylaws themselves,” stated Truluck. “And that they didn’t even bother to get permission for this event from City Parks.
“Every month for the last four years that I have been a councillor, we have been hammering on about illegal park use at the Parkview Community Policing Forum (CPF). It seems that police have not even been listening.”
Chairperson of Parkview CPF, Geoff Klass, found this conduct just as unacceptable, saying that the forum takes grave exception to it.
“The new station commander [present at the event] has not responded to my calls. We as a community refuse to see our police flouting the law and we demand an explanation,” said Klass.
Fran Haslam, who is chairperson of the Zoo Lake Users Committee, reiterated statements made by Truluck and Klass, saying that this was a sad day for the committee.
“We are working hard to get Zoo Lake clean, green and safe and the people we look to assist us in upholding the law, are in fact today breaking these laws,” said Haslam.
Parkview station commander, Colonel Thembekile Kubone, declined to comment by saying it was a Hillbrow cluster issue.
Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini of Gauteng Provincial Police could not be reached for comment at this stage.
