Tokai murder

[madbradd]

Middle of the day, and in a relatively busy area. Horrific. Was riding the greenbelt at the time. It just makes you wonder where and when are you ever really safe.

 

Condolences to the Family.

[Shebeen]

That's one of my happy places. So shocked to hear this.

[Headshot]

That's one of my happy places. So shocked to hear this.

Ya agree - my wife and toddler sometimes go there on their own to walk and we  often transition through there while out on a green belt ride. Makes me sick to the core. Seems like a real deviant act - no need to kill the victim unless you get some kind of pleasure out of hurting people. 

[mikkelz]

Scary. No apparent motive?

[sawystertrance]

What motive can there be for killing a youngster after a chance encounter? 

[Stretch]

I find myself divided with this news story. The actions are both tragic and disturbing and I truly feel for all those affected. Rape and murder are out of control in this country yet the media only reports on the cases that will impact sales? 20 rapes a day in South Africa...more than 1 an hour..if we really want to make a difference then we should have 20 separate news items a day every day. Every single rape that is not reported on makes that sexual offender more likely to believe that it is not a big issue in this country..and it is

[Marius]

I find it very strange, definitely more to the story. Will wait and see what the SAP uncover. 

[leaboy]

makes my blood boil, this is way too close to home for me.

I know its not much but a group of friends are actually wanting to initiate a bi/tri weekly running/riding activity in the late afternoons, just to create a presence that a large group of sporting enthusiasts make use of the tokai/constantia greenbelts.

hopefully it can be a deterrent for future predators.

[Edge_Design]

Perhaps the SAPS and Sanparks could patrol the area after hours?

Most of the users during the week do not frequent mountain paths during office hours.

There are so many people willing to set up security on the mountain at all hours.

 

I think both of the incidents in the area I have heard of (I think there was another rape or attempted rape a while ago on the jogging track) were during the day. It's also a +-4km stretch of track - with a huge overgrown area in the middle - which is generally quite busy so unless they can commit 10+ "patrollers", it's just not going to be effective. Then they must extend that to all the other trails/tracks in the area so you probably need 50+ people at any point in time to have a chance at eliminating crime.

 

The only realistic route is a CCTV system covering all of the greenbelts and someone monitoring full time. That will be a big capital investment and highly unlikely it will ever be a top priority for the city which means the residents must fund it (it is however very possible that would succeed if someone drives it as they have done with other similar projects in the area).

[NelAndre]

Yip I also find the story strange. Sad and strange.

 

I do not know that area at all. Is it a place where vagrants hang about and where safety has been an issue? People ride/walk/hike/run in Groenkloof for instance and it is simply not safe. Period. Tokai the same?

[Iceman.]

Such a tragedy. I hope they find the person responsible for this.

 

RIP. My condolences to her family.

[Headshot]

Yip I also find the story strange. Sad and strange.

 

I do not know that area at all. Is it a place where vagrants hang about and where safety has been an issue? People ride/walk/hike/run in Groenkloof for instance and it is simply not safe. Period. Tokai the same?

I know the area quite well. Its not known for its vagrants at all. Its part of the TMNP and is frequented by families with dogs, horse riders, runners and cyclists. Its busy in the afternoons which makes this attack even more disturbing.

 

That said, the main track - a 4km loop is around the perimeter with other trails that are off limits to bikes and horses through the fynbos. These tracks are much quieter and the plant growth is high enough to create great hiding spots. When the wind is blowing it would be hard to hear someone calling for help if they were dragged into this area.

 

That said I have never noticed people there who seemed out of place e.g vagrants. Its  usually just people  exercising as it has been for many years. 

 

Lets hope they catch the perp asap.Somebody must have seen something out of the ordinary.

[NelAndre]

I know the area quite well. Its not known for its vagrants at all. Its part of the TMNP and is frequented by families with dogs, horse riders, runners and cyclists. Its busy in the afternoons which makes this attack even more disturbing.

 

That said, the main track - a 4km loop is around the perimeter with other trails that are off limits to bikes and horses through the fynbos. These tracks are much quieter and the plant growth is high enough to create great hiding spots. When the wind is blowing it would be hard to hear someone calling for help if they were dragged into this area.

 

That said I have never noticed people there who seemed out of place e.g vagrants. Its  usually just people  exercising as it has been for many years. 

 

Lets hope they catch the perp asap.Somebody must have seen something out of the ordinary.

Thanks for the info.Yes this is very disturbing and it is so unbelievably sad that an area used for recreation became the scene of such a tragedy. Good luck to all involved.

[mikkelz]

What motive can there be for killing a youngster after a chance encounter? 

 

Agreed, there is none. That's why I'd like to know more. Was it theft? Sexual abuse? Drug-induced madness? Racial?

 

Pretty scary that there's someone out there (close to home and in fact home for some people on this forum), who just killed an innocent human being for no apparent reason.

[(Deon)]

I know the area quite well. Its not known for its vagrants at all. Its part of the TMNP and is frequented by families with dogs, horse riders, runners and cyclists. Its busy in the afternoons which makes this attack even more disturbing.

 

That said, the main track - a 4km loop is around the perimeter with other trails that are off limits to bikes and horses through the fynbos. These tracks are much quieter and the plant growth is high enough to create great hiding spots. When the wind is blowing it would be hard to hear someone calling for help if they were dragged into this area.

 

That said I have never noticed people there who seemed out of place e.g vagrants. Its  usually just people  exercising as it has been for many years. 

 

Lets hope they catch the perp asap.Somebody must have seen something out of the ordinary.

That's why it is more likely someone would have seen this person. It would have been while for the opportunity to arise and for that reason, this person would have been in that spot for some time. 

[(Deon)]

Possible it is the same guy from Rhodes Mem? With the increased awareness and presence of cops, did that drive him to look further afield??