Park rangers, driving 4x4s, will now take care of safety and security at Joburg's parks, cemeteries and other green lungs.

City Parks managing director, Luther Williamson said the utility wants to restore safety to parks across the city

CITY PARKS has launched a park safety unit to protect both the environment and the people who use its parks and open spaces.

The launch was held at Florida Lake Park, in Roodepoort, on Wednesday, 26 March. It was attended by the managing director of City Parks, Luther Williamson; the head of the City's safety and security programme, Nazira Cachalia; the chief director of the Johannesburg metropolitan police department, Harold Dlepu; the Gauteng MEC for safety and security, Firoz Cachalia; and key safety and security stakeholders in Johannesburg.

The unit comprises of 64 officers - 30 uniformed metro cops and 34 City Parks park rangers. South African Police Service officers, who will be on standby for emergencies, will beef up the unit. The partnership is the first of its kind in the country.

A plaque was unveiled at the launch.

Monitors
Called park rangers, the unit will guard and monitor the City's parks, cemeteries and conservation spaces, stopping vagrancy, littering, public drinking, illegal dumping and any other illegal activities. They will also enforce open space by-laws.

Gauteng MEC for safety and security, Firoz Cachalia and City Parks managing director, Luther Williamson, unveil the plague of the new unit

"Parks are a critical part of society, where people come and congregate," said Firoz Cachalia, the Gauteng MEC for safety and security. "It is important for our open spaces to always be safe."

City Parks is the municipal-owned entity responsible for maintaining, conserving and greening open spaces. It manages more than 2 000 open spaces across Johannesburg, including parks, cemeteries, pavements and street trees.

All parks need to be well managed by every resident, said the utility's managing director, Luther Williamson. "We all have to be ambassadors of safety in our parks."

He exhorted residents to report any transgressions in open spaces.

Problems at the parks include illegal tree felling, dumping, loud noise or music, and misuse by residents. These acts could all be hampered if there was visibility of policing units, Williamson noted.

No fear
The park rangers are tasked with ensuring that public spaces are safe and friendly, and that they are a tranquil setting for residents to relax without fear of crime. The unit's establishment was a key priority that was in line with the mayor's safety and security strategy, said Nazira Cachalia, the head of the City's safety and security programme.

"Parks are a critical part of society. The more people occupy and nurture them, the more criminals will be afraid to come closer."

According to Jenny Moodley, spokeswomen for City Parks, growing urbanisation has resulted in increased transgressions in parks, such as illegal dumping, tree felling and littering. "City Parks, as part of its responsibility to contain these contraventions, has established the partnership, which is aimed at developing healthier, safer and vibrant open spaces."

Driving branded 4x4s, the new park safety unit will work through two shifts. It headquarters are at Florida Lake Park, and all its flagship facilities will be patrolled at least twice a day. Two dedicated units will patrol cemeteries and nature reserves, with an additional two acting as rapid response units.

Residents who spot any illegal activities taking place in the City's open spaces should call 10111 or contact City Parks on 011 712 6600.

Related stories:

• Kids clean up Diepsloot wetlands
• Celebrating our richest resource
• Eldorado gets its park
• Turning over a new leaf
• Greening Soweto, tree by tree