Putting safety first at Lower Tokai

Janice Matthews and OWN Correspondent|Published 4 months ago

A visible safety patrol through Lower Tokai Park, organised by Parkscape, included residents and law enforcement. Picture: Parkscape

Environmental non-profit organisation Parkscape led a safety patrol through Lower Tokai Park while SANParks ran a safety awareness campaign there on Saturday October 12.

Parkscape has driven public awareness and patrols in Lower Tokai since its establishment in 2016, says Nicky Schmidt, Parkscape founder.

In 2019, this culminated in the Tokai Forest Safety Patrol, a joint community initiative that now takes place once a month in partnership with neighbourhood watches, SAPS, Law Enforcement, security firms, the Kirstenhof Community Police Forum and the Metro Equestrian Unit.

An extra weekly walk between Parkscape and Tokai Crime Watch takes place on Wednesday evenings (“Increasing visible policing and sense of safety,” Bulletin, December 15).

From this month, Parkscape, with its community partners, is trialling night patrols of Lower Tokai.

SANParks’s nationwide Safety and Awareness Campaign started in August to inform visitors about park rules – including those about walking with dogs, horse-riding and cycling – and how to protect themselves from crime (“Rangers promote good conduct, safety on trails,” Bulletin, September 5).

The patrol, which began at 9am, continued along the perimeter of the Lower Tokai Park. Picture: Parkscape

SANParks rangers Maurtan Fleur, Siphesihle Ndika, Nikita Snyman, Galvin Klein and Yolisa Tshaka were on standby to answers questions on activity permits and codes of conduct. Picture: Parkscape

Kirstenhof police and the CPF joined the morning’s activity. Picture: Parkscape

Many of patrollers’ furry friends joined in the walk. Picture: Parkscape

Tokai District Riding Association and the Metro Equestrian Unit rode in on their horses. Picture: Parkscape