Residents disappointed with park’s closure
Duduza - Residents of Duduza are more than disappointed that a month after the official opening of the Reconciliation Park in Lestapa Street, they still can't access the park.
The Reconciliation Park was opened by the mayor of Ekurhuleni, Clr Mondli Gungubele, during a ceremony on September 26.
The opening featured in the African Reporter (‘New park for Duduza’, October 2), where it was reported how community members came to witness the ceremony and enjoy the new park.
A week later, local skater crew, Unidentified Flying Object, claim they were denied access to the park to utilise the skate park.
Thato Mnguni (23), a member of the crew, further claims they were told by a security guard on duty that they may not enter the skate park as a merry-go-round in the park had been vandalised.
No one has been able to utilise the park since.
“We want to know why we can’t go inside the park after the mayor told us that we must make use of the skate park to hone our skating skills,” says Mnguni.
“What angers us the most is the fact that we are not told anything about the park’s closure, we are just left in the dark,” he says.
Resident Mbuselo Nqayibane (54), says he doesn’t understand why the park was opened in the first place only to be shut so soon afterwards.
He also believes it is unfair the community wasn’t notified about the closure.
“Our children are puzzled they can’t use the facilities,” says Nqayibane.
Community members are hoping that the park will be opened before the start of the school holidays because children will want to make use of the facilities such as the skate park, basketball court and the chess playing area.
The Ekurhuleni Metro has not responded to the African Reporter’s numerous requests for comment.
