The city remembers Mr Kela
The flowers that were laid in Rhodes Park by people of the community
Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo will commemorate the first year of the Rhodes Park incident where two men and their partners were confronted by a group of youth in the park on a Sunday afternoon, resulting in two fatalities with both their female partners being assaulted.
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The greening entity would like to pay tribute to Zukisa Kela a former teacher at Westbury Secondary School and Sizwe Tyeke, formerly from the Eastern Cape.
They had gone with their wives from church to enjoy a late afternoon in the park when a group had approached them, robbing them of some of their belongings and attacking their partners.Â
Following the incident, three men were arrested for the murders with five accomplices fleeing the country to Zimbabwe.
Stemming from the horrific incident, a community partnership led by Stallion Security and Pick and Pay, supported by coordinated random patrols by SAPS, JMPD and the Park Rangers was put in place.
Fencing, lighting and trees with overgrown branches were removed and safety concerns were addressed. This resulted in Rhodes Park remaining incident-free since that fateful Sunday.
Managing director of Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo Bulumko Nelana said complying with the bylaws in parks, being more vigilant and an increase in visitors during the day in public spaces act as a deterrent to opportunistic crime.
“Adding that the Rhodes Park model serves as a blueprint on how communities together with local security companies and businesses can work as a collective to reclaim public spaces plagued by crime,” said Nelana.
To observe the day, families and loved ones will gather to lay a wreath and release two doves on Monday led by MMC for Community Development councillor Nonhlanhla Sifumba.
Also read:Â Memorial service for Rhodes Park victim
