THE ONCE vibrant and family-orientated Silverglen Nature Reserve in Chatsworth has turned into a killing field after a series of grisly discoveries of dead bodies have been made by residents and passersby.
On Tuesday, the tortured remains of a male body, bound and with a gunshot wound to the head was the latest morbid find made at the recreational site.
The Daily News understands that at least five bodies have been found dumped near the nature reserve this year, which, understandably, this has heightened the fear and anxiety levels among residents living in close proximity.
The 460 hectare nature reserve boasts a dam and is set in a dense veld, which has turned into crime-riddled hot-spot.
A concerned resident, Ivan Moodley, said the local community lived in fear amid the ongoing discoveries of dead bodies.
“The series of discoveries of dead bodies has made us fearful because we don’t know who were the people behind the murders. Even more startling is that we don’t know the people who have been found murdered near our beloved nature reserve,” said Moodley.
He said the number of people going to fish and camp at the nature reserve had dropped to zero amid the shocking discoveries of dead people.
“We can’t risk our lives and go there to have fun like we used to because it has become too dangerous . We plead for the intervention of government and other law enforcement agencies to curb what is going on here,” he said.
Another resident, Rob Naicker, said the nature reserve was not only a site for dumping dead bodies, but it was also a hotbed for car hijackings.
“Many people who try to steal cars use it as the route in many cases to enter Chatsworth. If nothing is done to a stop what is happening here, the situation will only get worse as Chatsworth already has a high rate of crime,” remarked Naicker.
Claude Subramodey of Amawele Ambulance Service confirmed that four bodies have been found near the nature reserve previously.
“Yesterday (Tuesday), we were called out in Silverglen after a body was found in that area. I certified the person dead. He was badly beaten. A few weeks ago, I was called there to attended to another dead body,” said Subramodey.
He said the discovery of corpses near the nature reserve was becoming a usual occurrence.
A community leader, Steven Naidu, said: “We are doing the best to deal with the issue of crime in Silverglen. But I must say that the issue of dead people being dumped near the dam is worrying. It is giving us a big headache,” he said.
Naidu said it was difficult for them to screen the people who entered Chatsworth from the uMlazi entry point, to determine whether they were criminals or not, as scores of workers used the area as a thoroughfare into the neighbourhood.
“We are not saying the people from uMlazi who work here in Chatsworth are responsible for such heinous acts, but that it is difficult to separate criminals from the people who are employed by some residents of Chatsworth,” he said.
DA Ward councillor Tony Govender was blunt, labelling the nature reserve a “lost ship”, citing the high level of crime in the vicinity of the nature reserve.
“I can tell you now that the nature reserve is no longer a tourist attraction site. This is due to the issue of crime and the dumping of dead bodies there. Tourists used to go there in droves for hiking and braaing, but they don’t visit anymore,” said Govender.
In an effort to combat the grim reality, community members recently blocked Lakeview Drive, a route frequently used by criminals fleeing from law enforcement.
Govender warned that if the government did not intervene to revive the nature reserve, crime would inadvertently spike in the area.
“The Government must do something about the issue of crime in this area which is evidently out of hand,” said Govender.
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