Ward 20 councillor, Michele Clarke, has slammed the acts of vandalism that have taken place at the public garden on the corner of Van Buuren and Nicol roads in Bedfordview over the weekend of January 15.
“Over the weekend of January 10, many of the aloe plants were broken and most of the ground cover uprooted. Taxpayer’s money was used to build this garden. We had community members and we worked here ourselves doing the digging and the planting and now it has all been ruined,” said Clr Clarke.
“This garden was one of my CBP projects and cost more than R200 000 to put together. Community members also contributed money and labour for the garden which was completed about three years ago,” she added.
“It is shocking that people can behave like this. You can see how everything was ripped out and uprooted with brutal force. I don’t think people ripped out the plants to use for their personal gardens, this was pure vandalism. The aloe plants were not cut down, they were pulled down with force until the branches snapped
off,” said Clr Clarke.
The Metro police and the Bedfordview SAPS were informed and they will be watching the area. Damage to council property is an offence which carries a R10 000 fine. Community members with any information, or who see vandalism taking place, can contact Clr Clarke on 082 871 8640.
