The Laudium Sun has carried several stories regarding the misery endured by locals who happen to use or stay nearby sites, such as parks, which seem to have become chosen areas for criminal behaviour, these days.
The recent unfolding of a couple of unfortunate incidents at the Himalaya Street Park, which is supposed to be a place of recreation and relaxation, has led residents to believe that the park now poses a threat to their safety by providing a 'playground' for all sorts of suspicious characters who frequent it.
The most recent incident occurred on Monday, April 16, when an armed robbery took place at the park, at around 6pm.
Furious Himalaya Street resident, Ruben Pillay (56) said, “It's definitely not the first time a robbery has occurred here at the park in recent weeks. Looks like the park has become a criminal’s playground.”
"About a month ago, two domestic workers were robbed of their possessions by a pair of young thugs, armed with knives and on Monday night (April 16), three thugs assaulted and robbed a youngster who was making his way home from work. The thugs took his wallet, cellphone and even the take-aways he had got for supper, before escaping in a red Toyota RunX. These evil thugs still assaulted 20-year-old Michael Tebza, even after he handed over everything he had on him," Ruben exclaimed.
Michael, who rents a room in a sub-divided house on Himalaya Street, told the Laudium Sun that he did not even see the thugs approaching him that night, as it was so dark.
"I was using the park as a shortcut to get home as I have been doing every night, for the past year and these three creeps, two of whom had knives, demanded my money and cellphone from me. I handed it to them and then one of them even grabbed the KFC bag from my hand. I was so shocked that they even took my food,” Michael, who works for ABI said.
He continued, “then one of the thugs kicked me in my chest and I fell over. The three then started kicking me everywhere and when they had finished, they walked away casually, leaving me on the ground, in excruciating pain. I somehow managed to see, even in the low light, that they jumped into a red RunX and sped away,” said the traumatised victim.
“I painfully limped home and when my neighbour, Irshaad, saw me, he immediately took me to the Laudium Hospital on Bengal Street. They attended to me at the hospital and I was allowed to go home at around 10pm that night. I still have pains all over my body every night and the robbery has affected my work, because my job is mainly to pack goods that are delivered, and now it is so difficult for me to pack, with all the pain. I will never ever use the park as a shortcut home again. I would rather take the long way home and be safer," Michael concluded.
Laudium police confirmed that a case of armed robbery has been opened and is still under investigation. No arrests have been made.
Nearby residents say repeated criminal incidents at the Himalaya Street Park, have rendered it unsafe.
Himalaya Street resident, Ruben Pillay (56), says the nearby park is not safe.
Local resident, Michael Tebza (20) was robbed at the Himalaya Street park.