Johannesburg - Amid anger and disgust at the Rhodes Park attack that left two men murdered and a woman raped, the Kensington Residents Association intends building a memorial to the victims.
The association will seek a meeting with Joburg mayor Parks Tau to endorse public space patrolling, a concept it has been trying to roll out for the past four months.
On Monday morning the SAPS and City Parks held an emergency meeting on how to improve safety in the park, said Cleveland police spokeswoman Constable Mpho Mashakane, who said no arrests had been made.
The investigation into the horror attack has been handed to a special investigating unit of the SAPS.
The police have launched a manhunt for the suspects.
Two couples were enjoying a late afternoon walk on Saturday when they were attacked by a gang of about 12 men.
The men tied the two men up and threw them into the lake.
The women watched as their partners struggled in the water before drowning.
One woman was raped while the other escaped.
The women’s haunting screams alerted a security guard from the neighbouring bowling club who called the police.
It took police divers four hours to recover the bodies of the two men, aged 25 and 32.
The couples were South African and not Zimbabwean, as was reported earlier. One man was a teacher from Westbury.
The families of the victims were too distraught to speak on Monday, but members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, of which one of the couples were devout members, expressed their shock.
One of the congregants, Robert Ndimande, said the couples had spent the day in church on Saturday.
“They were with us almost the whole day. We cannot believe this – crime is getting out of control. Why did they not just rob them and leave them?
“They must have died a terrible death trying to get out of the water with their hands tied behind their backs like that.”
Chairman of the I Love Kensington Association, Tony de Munnik, said October 17 would go down in history as a “black day” for the area.
“We will engage with the victims at a more appropriate time to consider the creation of a memorial to those who lost their lives in this vicious and senseless act of savagery,” he said.
The public space patrolling initiative involves the communities and businesses in the area contributing to have three of four vehicles checking the streets 24 hours a day.
“We already have a number of potential sponsors. This will not be a vigilante group. It will involve properly trained security staff,” said De Munnik.
He said it was time communities stood together to pressure politicians to prioritise their safety.
Chairman of the Cleveland Community Police Forum, Alison Roberts, was at the scene on Sunday and together with police officers laid wreaths at the place where the bodies were recovered.
“Everyone is reeling with shock at this senseless and barbaric murder. We are all concerned about the safety of all our parks. We have had numerous incidents of crime and the City of Joburg has to do something, especially with the Christmas holidays approaching.
“The main concern is a huge stormwater drain through which they escape,” she said.
City Parks spokeswoman Jenny Moodley said the department relied on the Joburg metro police department and SAPS to patrol the park.
“Safety in parks is not our core function; nonetheless, we are busy reviewing our safety strategy and will be coming up with some interim measures to tighten up security.
“We appeal to residents to be vigilant,” she said.
Gauteng police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini confirmed the charge sheet had been handed to a special investigating unit.
The police are appealing to anyone with information to contact the nearest police station or Crime Stop at 08600 1011.
The Star
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