River Rat Posted July 28, 2015 Posted July 28, 2015 My wife and I were out on a training ride on Klapperkop at around 10;30 this morning when the following happened. I was on my way up the hill having just turned at the guardhouse at the R21 and was about 500m ahead of my wife as always I kept glancing back to make sure that she was safe. I noticed that there was a another MTBiker some 500m behind her who had obviously just come from fountains circle. Knowing that there was another biker on the road gave me a bit of licence to continue knowing that she was relatively safe and having seen a police van parked at the Telkom Tower lookout point . After turning at the radio tower she told me that shots were fired while she was climbing up towards lookout between her and the other cyclist and she was concerned for the cyclists safety. I set off downhill and as I came around the corner there were six police vans parked across the road. I tried to enquire as to what was going on but none of the officers would engage with me, I recognised that they were busy with an operation and I got out of their way, standing to one side. The six police vans were soon joined by a police chopper searching the area between the hill climb, the R21 and George Storrar Road. After about 10 minutes one of the officers came across to chat to me and explained what had transpired. This officer approached the lookout on foot from the Fort side heading towards the lookout point, with his colleague waiting at the lookout point when he came across a guy dressed in old army browns hiding in the bushes just above the lookout point. When spotted the guy bolted and must ran between my wife and the other cyclist ( he did not mention any shots being fired) down the steep embankment into the area now being searched by the chopper. He showed me where these guys sit and observe and it is quite chilling to see how perfect their observation point is. They can watch the lookout point as well as the traffic coming from either direction and because of the natural depression it would be almost impossible to spot them. The area is strewn with plastic water bottles so clearly these guys spend a lot of time there watching us cycle up and down that hill. Unfortunately, I had to leave the area so I don't know whether the culprit was caught or not. It is evident from the resources thrown at what could only be described as the pursuit of a suspicious person, shows that the police are taking the recent incidents at Klapperkop very seriously. What struck me was the comment from the officer that pursuing the guy in that rugged terrain was difficult and when I suggested to him that had I known what was going on I would have gladly assisted in flushing him out on my MTBike. This led to a conversation around how we as patrons of Klapperkop could assist them and I am thinking along the lines of maybe joining up with the police in doing a sweep of the area in the near future. The officer was very enthusiastic at first but disengaged to join his colleagues in the search before we could work out the details. I am thinking of approaching the CPF to arrange something provided that I can get enough support from the cycling community and perhaps the running clubs that use Klapperkop. Anybody keen to join me?
River Rat Posted July 28, 2015 Author Posted July 28, 2015 Thanks Dirtrider, let's see how many we get by Friday and I'll take it from there.
GlockG4 Posted July 28, 2015 Posted July 28, 2015 I would gladly help, but please guys I know we all are extremely fed up with the situation, but remember rambo is a fictional character and these guys are very dangerous and will not think twice about killing you to get free. Keep us posted.
River Rat Posted July 28, 2015 Author Posted July 28, 2015 I would gladly help, but please guys I know we all are extremely fed up with the situation, but remember rambo is a fictional character and these guys are very dangerous and will not think twice about killing you to get free. Keep us posted. Agreed, this needs to be a measured but firm response in supporting the authorities. The vigilante approach is not going to work and will most likely ostracise us from the very people that can make a difference. What I need is to know that there are a reasonable number of people that want to assist so that we can approach the authorities and see how we can assist. The officer I chatted to this morning was clearly committed to cleaning up the place and we have to give him our support.
Spinnekop Posted July 28, 2015 Posted July 28, 2015 Just as a note:This was posted on 24 July on FB: ATTACKS @ Klapperkop: pls be careful. The community leader for Monument Park has confirmed that there have been 2 robberies and assaults; 2 rapes and they found a corpse there in the last week. There will be a clean up operation on the 21st of August.
River Rat Posted July 28, 2015 Author Posted July 28, 2015 Just as a note:This was posted on 24 July on FB: ATTACKS @ Klapperkop: pls be careful. The community leader for Monument Park has confirmed that there have been 2 robberies and assaults; 2 rapes and they found a corpse there in the last week. There will be a clean up operation on the 21st of August. Thanks I'm trying to make contact with the "community leader" ( I'm not really sure what that means can anyone help) as well as the ward councillor. Perhaps at the very least we should join up with the 21st of August initiative.
J∆kk∆ls Posted July 28, 2015 Posted July 28, 2015 I would gladly help, but please guys I know we all are extremely fed up with the situation, but remember rambo is a fictional character and these guys are very dangerous and will not think twice about killing you to get free. Keep us posted.Rambo also dies in the end (First Blood the book).But then again he was alone. Can't join you guys since I'm in CPT. Move in pairs at least and dont bunch up, making it easy for them to attack all at once. Carry a legal non-lethal weapon that you know how to use. Stay safe and nail those Phkrs!
River Rat Posted July 28, 2015 Author Posted July 28, 2015 For clarity sake here is the lookout point in question.
River Rat Posted July 28, 2015 Author Posted July 28, 2015 This is where the criminals are hiding, if you look carefully you can see the natural depressions which make it easy for them to hide when you look up.
GlockG4 Posted July 28, 2015 Posted July 28, 2015 Just as a note:This was posted on 24 July on FB: ATTACKS @ Klapperkop: pls be careful. The community leader for Monument Park has confirmed that there have been 2 robberies and assaults; 2 rapes and they found a corpse there in the last week. There will be a clean up operation on the 21st of August. would be great if something can be done before then, a lot of rape and pillage can be done until then. But like I said plase keep us posted, and your efforts are greatly appreciated river rat.
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