Vumacam’s SafeCity initiative to support Jozi Trails and Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo in making Braamfontein Spruit safer

Vumacam CEO, Ricky Croock, explains that the cameras provide “strategic oversight of the area and allow our security partners – 24/7 Security, Beagle Watch, CAP Security and Fidelity ADT – who have agreed to provide monitoring and on-the-ground support, to act swiftly, should an incident or suspected incident take place. This collaboration enables comprehensive coverage and support to the public.”

Full press release can be viewed here:

The Trail Guardians, a partnership with Jozi Trails & 1st for Women

To create a safe zone for park users, Jozi Trails set up patrols by community volunteers named the Trail Guardians. They will observe and report anything or anyone along the trail that looks suspicious so that local security service providers can come to check things out.

The task of the Trail Guardians is simply to walk the route, observe and, if needed, report anything that needs checking out. The Trail Guardians will patrol in groups. The route to be patrolled is from Conrad drive to and around Delta Park. Patrols will happen twice a day, between 6h00 (06h30 in Winter) and 8h00 in the morning and between 16h00 and 18h00 in the afternoon.

Full press release can be viewed here:

Reporting Incidents – Why?

Why we recommend any person who is a victim of crime on the Spruit to fill in the survey and report the incident to the SAPS. Reporting your incident to the SAPS is not mandatory and can be a pain but it assists Jozi Trails and the long term safety of the Spruit in two ways:

• With all the information Jozi Trails can get a combined view of all the different incidents that have taken place, and with that, we can then focus our energy in the right direction, hot spots etc.
• The SAPS put more focus and resources into areas that receive a high number of documented incidents. The more cases opened in the area, the easier it is to get the SAPS to support the Jozi Trails initiatives in those areas. Secondly, only SAPS can make arrests and get prosecutions and to do this they need CASE numbers to link the crimes and get effective prosecutions.

Crime is, unfortunately, a common occurrence in Johannesburg. As members of the community, we have a duty to report such incidents to the proper authorities. As stats gain accuracy through consistent reporting and following correct procedure, so do the wheels of justice gain momentum. The probability of forceable action increases drastically if everyone makes it their responsibility to report criminal activities.

Reporting Incidents – How?

How to report an incident effectively to Jozi Trails:

• Where: Did it happen?
• When: Did it happen?
• Who: Number, description, attitude, clothing, weapons
• What? Now, Have you done a police report & which police station did you report it to

If you have any questions or need assistance about security on the Spruit or after an incident please get in touch at security@jozitrails.co.za.

We’ve created a Whatsapp group to circulate any important Jozi Trails notices and security updates. If you’d like to join and keep up to date with the latest info, join using the link below.

Safety Tips

High-risk Times: 4:30 to 10:00 and 17:00 to 19:00, both of these periods are the trails highest use times and provide opportunities for criminals to take advantage of low light conditions.

When using the trails:

• Situational Awareness is your greatest defence tool, beware of people and vehicles in the close vicinity
• Try to run /walk/ride in groups, look after each and every group member and try not let people fall behind
• Try to exercise after first light
• Don’t use headphones – they reduce your awareness of what’s going on around you and make you vulnerable
• Don’t display valuable items such as phones, cameras, keep them hidden
• Avoid being in areas of a limited line of sight such as thick bushes and shrubs, stick to paths that are open and preferably well used
• Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back
• If you are able to carry a mobile Panic Button such as the MySOS Panic Button or other recommended panic buttons or apps, then leave your valuable phone at home and remove the temptation for criminals
• Enable the tracking function on your phone when out and about

In the worst-case scenario:

• Don’t fight back, give them what they want and remove yourself from danger.
• The only time this could not apply is if your assailant tries to take you to a secondary location, every situation is different and this will need to be a personal judgement call. If you feel your life or safety is in danger you will have to make that call.
• As soon as you are in a safe place, contact the police.
• These crimes need to be reported to the police and you need to get a CAS number, this will help us greatly in tracking the criminal activity on the river and stopping it.
• Once you have a CAS number go to Jozi trails incident report form and make sure you include the CAS number in your report.

Meet our JT Bobbies

Having eyes and ears on the trail during peak visitor times is one of the many ways we’re ramping up safety. To start with, we’ve employed four security guards we call JT Bobbies to patrol the whole phase 1 area (from Conrad Drive to Emmerentia, including Delta Park) from 6am to 6pm on weekends. They are easy to spot, on their JT bikes (sponsored by Trek), wearing 24/7 Security uniform with a Jozi Trails logo on the front and they’ll be happy to assist if you need directions, advice or any other help.

Contact: 011 444 2237

24/7 Security, CAP and Beagle Watch Armed Response have joined forces to help fight crime on the Spruit. The companies regularly station their guards, cars, horses and bikes to patrol Delta Park, Emmarentia, Conrad Drive and Alberts farm. A massive thank you to these three competing companies for coming together for the cause.