Pretoria - Propopsed camera surveillance (CCTV) and increased policing are some of the security measures suggested by a high-level security cluster assigned to tackle crime at the Groenkloof Nature Reserve and the surrounding areas.
The security cluster included MMC for Economic Development Subesh Pillay, the MMC for Environmental and Agricultural Management, Petunia Mashaba, the Metro Police and the SAPS.
Pillay made a commitment that before the end of July a smartphone app will assist visitors with notifying security personnel around the nature reserve should any problems arise.
Pillay also committed to beefing up the perimeter fence and said an electric fence around the reserve would be repaired within a week.
“We will look into the cost of the fence in our budget this month,” he said.
More than 300 concerned members of the public packed the NG Church in Groenkloof last night to highlight their concerns.
Members of the public recounted and spoke about their horrific experiences which left those in the hall startled.
Theft, attempted rape and stabbings were the most common incidents.
What emerged during the meeting was that there are hotspots where people get attacked, and that the criminals probably slept overnight and targeted hikers in the early morning; in most cases, they jumped over the fence or made a hole to enter and escape from the nature reserve.
Another problem highlighted was the lack of management in the nature reserve.
Community representative Rob King submitted a petition signed by 3 001 people and asked those responsible to carry out their duties.
“You get paid a lot, so please start doing your job,” King told the panel.
King said the incidents had been increasing with dramatic effect, with at least one attack a month since the beginning of the year.
Three main points needed to be implemented, he said. First, rangers working in the reserve must get more training to handle the attacks; second: get more resources; and third: fence the reserve in a way that keeps the criminals out.
The public meeting follows a spate of muggings at the reserve.
In the most recent incident, two men were arrested following the assault and robbery of two women at the reserve over the weekend.
Taschia Slabbert said she and her mother were attacked while on a trail hike last Saturday. The two men allegedly stopped in front of them and demanded they hand over their belongings. They were later arrested.
Over the past two years a large number of patrons have been attacked and robbed, mostly at knife point.
Previously, a cycling community had decided to boycott the nature reserve until it was safe to return. This was after a victim was robbed of his bike.
Pretoria News