Stoning incidents pose danger to motorists and cyclists in Woodstock

Motorists and cyclists are urged to take precautions in the early hours of the morning when passing Lower Church Street in Woodstock and the N1 highway turnoff, where incidents of stoning have been reported.

In recent months, several stoning incidents have been reported in the area, said provincial police spokesperson Captain FC Van Wyk, adding that the attacks usually take place in the early hours of the morning, between midnight and 5am.

“Woodstock police can confirm that such incidents occurred in their policing precinct,” he said.

“Police are deployed according to the crime pattern analysis, and we urge community members to report criminal or suspicious activities in the area,” he said.

Captain Van Wyk urges the public to be vigilant when driving between these times in that area

Law Enforcement spokesperson Wayne Dyason said patrols are conducted regularly in the area, but officers cannot remain in one place for extended periods due to the high demand on their services.

“We call on the national minister to evict the illegal occupants as this will curb these attacks on cyclists and road users,” he said.

The City’s mayoral committee member for urban mobility, Rob Quintas said there is unlawful land occupation on Transnet-owned land at the bottom of Church Street and along the N1 in the vicinity of these attacks.

“The City is currently trying to engage Transnet about the unlawful land occupation,” he said.

Mr Quintas said the damaged equipment and cameras, which have been repaired, are still to be connected to an electricity line as the electricity sub-station was badly damaged and vandalised as well. “Once the sub-station is operational, the cameras will work and assist the investigation with potential footage which will improve the chances for apprehension of those responsible,” he said.

Mr Quintas said that the city’s cameras around the Woodstock Integrated Rapid Transit (IRT) station have recently been heavily vandalised again, and the vandalism problem in the area is still ongoing. “Three other cameras were affected this time,” he said. 

“ Unfortunately, even once the power is restored, these cameras won’t come back online as the pole mount kiosk and camera were stolen," he said.

Mr Quintas said their contractor is busy assessing the damage, and they should commence with repairs by next week.

Ward 115 Councillor Ian McMahon said he shares the concerns around stoning that is taking place in that location.

“I have escalated this matter to law enforcement, though we have seen heightened patrols in that area at those times of the day,” he said.

Mr McMahon said the major problem is that more than 400 people are living in that location illegally.

“The legal process is underway to have those people evicted, and a court date is set between October and November,” he said.

Woodstock Community Police Forum acting chairperson Gary Adams said that Woodstock police and law enforcement would do patrols in the area close to Lower Church Street, where, on either side of the road, there are informal structures of people living on open parts of Transnet property.  “There is not much security in that area, and the community always looks to the police to patrol that area, and it is not possible to do it 24/7,” he said. 

Mr Adams suggested that there should be a notification board that can inform motorists and cyclists that they will be passing a danger zone. 

The Tatler reached out to Transnet for comment, and a Transnet representative referred them to another contact, who had not responded at the time of going to print.