South Africa’s only insurer dedicated to putting women’s safety first, 1st for Women Insurance, has partnered with Jozi Trails to enhance safety initiatives along sections of the Braamfontein Spruit to encourage more women to experience nature within the urban sprawl of Johannesburg.
The Delta Park section of the Braamfontein Spruit that runs from Conrad Drive in the North and Emmarentia in the South, is one of the largest and busiest public open spaces in the city. Until recently, it was also one of the most dangerous.
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Jozi Trails to the rescue
Prior to Jozi Trails establishing the Trail Guardian community patrols in 2020, there was on average, one mugging reported in the area per week.
This statistic is what inspired Jozi Trails – an NGO established in 2017 committed to uplifting the park by keeping the public trails along the Spruit safe, attractive and accessible.
The organisation is calling for volunteers to join their Trail Guardian project to tackle the problem of crime in Delta Park.
Jozi Trails works on behalf of the Metro to develop and maintain all the trails along the Braamfontein Spruit, including those in Delta Park.
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Protected by Trail Guardians
Jozi Trails recruited other like-minded concerned community members to join their initiative as Trail Guardians.
“These dedicated individuals volunteer their time to observe park-users and if needed, report suspicious activity to the local security authorities. Their visibility had a massive and almost immediate impact, with crime in the park reducing,” says David Kramer, manager of Jozi Trails.
“The Trail Guardians are an extension of our Guardian Angel on Call fleet of pink Toyota Urban Cruisers, which are on call 24/7, to protect and guard female motorists following a breakdown or car accident. We know that when women feel safe, they can live more fearlessly. When sunsets are not curfews, they’ll be able to do more, be more and achieve more”, says Seugnette van Wyngaard, Head of 1st for Women.
“We are thrilled to partner with a company whose core values align so closely to ours,” says Kramer. “With the support of 1st for Women, we will be able to expand our efforts beyond Delta Park and increase our security along the current trails.”
Author: Pedro van Gaalen
When he’s not writing about sport or health and fitness, Pedro is probably out training for his next marathon or ultra-marathon. He’s worked as a fitness professional and as a marketing and comms expert. He now combines his passions in his role as managing editor at Fitness magazine.
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