- A new fence around the Plattekloof Natural Heritage Site has significantly reduced crime in Edgemead.
- The project, initiated in 2023, limits access to the reserve, which was previously used by criminals as a hiding spot.
- Neighbourhood watch chair Steve Maritz highlights the fence’s role in improving safety and cleanliness in the area.
Crime in Edgemead and surrounding areas have shown a significant decline since the installation of a fence around the Plattekloof Natural Heritage Site.
The project started in 2023 and is near completion. Currently contractors are still busy installing a fence near Acasia Park, says Steve Maritz, chair of the Edgemead Neighbourhood Watch (ENW).
Maritz told TygerBurger on Friday during a visit to the fence along D’Almeida Avenue, Edgemead, that there has been a definite reduction in crime along the reserve area.
“We have seen a dramatic reduction of types of crime since the fence was installed. We have embarked on several independent crime fighting strategies simultaneously, but it is abundantly clear to us that the fencing project is a gamechanger and has played a significant role in reducing crime.
“In addition, the ability of horse cart operators to dump in the reserve has been reduced and the reserve is looking much cleaner, neater as a result,” Maritz says.
Houses near to, or adjacent to the Plattekloof Natural Heritage Site had occasionally been targeted by criminals who would escape into the reserve. The areas often targeted include Edgemead, Bothasig and Kleinbosch.
Efforts are now being made to install a fence in the reserve near Kleinbosch and Welgelegen, says Maritz.
He says since the fence had been installed on the Edgemead side of the reserve, there had been one arrest for someone trespassing. Up until recently the reserve had been used as a hideout for vagrants, however since the fence had been installed there are no longer people occupying the land.
For the past few months Maritz and other ENW members have also been cleaning the reserve.
He says the grass and invasive plants such as the Port Jackson had been cut and that a firebreak had been created for safety.
He says as a neighbourhood watch, they are happy that steps had finally been taken by Eskom, who owns the property, to safeguard the area. Maritz says several endangered plant species are found in the area. “Eight of which are only found in this area,” he says.
There are also several animal species found in the reserve, of whom some have been killed by those occupying the land illegally. Maritz explained that the road to have the fence installed had not been easy and that idea came about in 2022 already. Only after several meetings and talks with Eskom worked finally started in 2023. The project was only supposed to last for six months, but there is still work being done, he says.
Five phases
There are five phases of the project.
These include the stretch between D’Almeida Avenue, Giel Basson Drive and Woodhead Drive (Priority 1); Giel Basson Drive, Bosmansdam Road and Woodhead Drive (Priority 2); Giel Basson Drive, Plattekloof Road and Setlaar Street (Priority 3); and Edgemead Drive to D’Almeida Avenue (Priority 4).
The area between Acacia and Edgemead Drive (Priority 5) is currently underway.
Maritz says ENW had spoken to Eskom about the section between Giel Basson and Plattekloof Road, which runs along Kleinbosch and Welgelegen. They have also been in talks with the local neighbourhood watch about this project.
“The next phase is to continue this work into the easterly section of the reserve, managed by Eskom Distribution. This section runs from Giel Basson Drive, eastwards to Plattekloof Road and is bordered by Kleinbosch in the north, Welgelegen in the south and Plattekloof in the east.
“While this is a relatively small area, it is still being used by criminals as a crime corridor, as well as a dumping ground. Vagrants setting up camps here, and making fires is a common occurrence,” says Maritz.
Maritz could not confirm exactly what the cost of the entire project is but estimates it to be in the millions.
