Pretoria - Police believe they have nabbed two of the suspects responsible for armed robberies and assaults on hikers at the Groenkloof Nature Reserve.
One suspect was arrested last Saturday following an attack on two women while on the white hiking trail of the nature reserve at around 8am, said metro police spokesman Isaac Mahamba.
The women’s screams alerted personnel patrolling the reserve, who pursued the robbers.
Mahamba said the Groenkloof staff and metro police officers swiftly traced the suspect to a nearby informal settlement.
The suspect was positively identified by the women and was arrested and charged with armed robbery.
The second man was arrested the next day.
“It is regrettable that our beautiful reserve has become notorious for vicious attacks on hikers,” Mahamba said.
At the beginning of the year, the reserve’s management enhanced security and deployed more metro police officers to increase visibility, he said. “Recently, notices were put up at the entrance of the resort to inform people to stay vigilant.
“These arrests show that the efforts by the city are yielding fruits. With these measures in place, it is evident that the city is committed to ensuring the safety of its visitors,” he said.
The suspects were alleged to have attacked and robbed mother and daughter Taschia and Melissa Slabbert.
Taschia was robbed of her phone, car keys and a camera worth R33 000. Her cellphone and car keys were later recovered. Her mother was stabbed in her arm and head.
But this was just one in a string of attacks that have plagued the popular nature reserve in recent months.
Saloshani Pather and Saloshinie Govender were attacked on April 10. Pather said she later learnt of two other robberies at the nature reserve that took place before her ordeal.
She remarked on Wednesday during a walkabout at the nature reserve that had she known of the attacks, she would not have gone hiking there.
Bernard Roode was also robbed of his bicycle as he confronted a thief he and a friend found sleeping at about 6.15am in February.
A meeting has been scheduled for next Tuesday at the Groenkloof Ned Geref Kerk from 6.30pm to address security issues at the nature reserve.
Pretoria News