Over R1,5million Worth of Fencing Stolen

Five suspects arrested for stealing fencing on the eastern side of the James and Ethel Gray Park above the M1.

Nadine Sibanda

(The Post News) – Five suspects were caught red-handed and arrested by the Norwood police for fence and panel theft in Melrose.

The Norwood Police Station has confirmed that five suspects have been arrested for theft of property fencing.

Spokesperson Warrant Officer Eric Masotsha said the suspects had been caught red-handed loading a stolen fence and 26 panels onto their bakkie on July 14.

From the beginning of this year, the fence at the eastern side of the James and Ethel Gray Park in Melrose, Johannesburg, has been getting stolen.

The James and Ethel Gray Park Foundation Chairperson, Sunil Genesis, reported that 1km of fencing worth R1,5 million was stolen.

Since the Foundation’s launch in 2019, 12km of fencing has been installed around the park a total value of a million.

Geness said the park has never had this problem since the Foundation’s installation and there is security and guarding in the park, however, these individuals who steal the fence come in to map out the place then in the early hours of the morning they come, take the fence off, van quickly comes, they load the fencing and they’re gone.

“I think policing is the key aspect. These matters have been raised by City Parks, the Ward Councillor and other entities in the community. The Norwood SAPS has been made aware of this,” said Genesis.

Jeff Afriat, a member of the Waverley Residents, Ratepayers and Homeowners Association, explained that they have a public-private partnership with City Parks through park adoptions and due to a lack of resources, funds are predominantly raised from residents or sponsorships and used to secure the parks.

He added, “As we know, the fencing is expensive and there is no visible policing whatsoever to protect our assets.”

Resident Bruce Bernstein highlighted how this crime has impacted the park. “This has led to security being porous with a lot of vagrants and suspicious characters loitering the park.

As residents we are also concerned and questioning the safety of our area.”
The arrested suspects will appear in court on July 18 as confirmed by the Norwood Police Station.