Every time one reads or hears the media the infamous R300 highway makes headlines. The headlines tell us that another motorist or law enforcement official was attacked there.
We are told that highway pirates place obstacles on the road. As soon as a motorist stops, then from the cover of the foliage, shrubs, bushes and trees these criminals launch their attacks.
God help a motorist who has a breakdown or runs out of fuel and stops next to the R300. We also appreciate the law enforcement patrols but we must keep in mind that stretch of highway is 20km long and a road terrorist can strike and rob, murder or maim in minutes and then disappear.
A few years ago when I was the South African police operational commander of Table Bay harbour I became aware that criminal elements were snatching jewellery and handbags from motorists when they stopped at the Dock Road entrance to the Vandamp;A Waterfront at the robots or in peak traffic. Then these criminals ran to the bushy area across the road and hid under the long tree branches. I then highlighted my concern to the City engineer and the trees were trimmed. The attacks stopped.
The same happened on the N1 opposite the Table Bay harbour where illegal immigrants were living and launching attacks in the harbour area. I also had those bushes trimmed.
So I am proposing to those officers of law enforcement to make use of the environmental design crime prevention strategy and do an on-site visit to the R300 highway and trim or cut down the bushes and trees and level out the embankments that the criminals use to hide. I want to give a quote I have made up myself: “It is sometimes wise to listen to an old dog who barks at the gate.”
