According to Glynis Holdsworth, treasurer of the Lake West Residents Association (LWRA), someone has been cutting down trees illegally in the area, especially in Kilfenora.
Clr Mary Goby (Ward 28) believes the perpetrator to have been a nearby resident.
According to a recent email which the City Times received from the LWRA, punishment for the act of cutting down or trimming trees without permission in Ekurhuleni will soon carry a criminal charge.
The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) was asked whether there is truth to this information, but no answer had been received at the time of publication.
When asked about the possibility of tree trimmers being criminally charged, Goby said: “Yes, they must be.”
“These trees are on public space – municipal ground; it’s illegal to cut them down without permission from council.”
“We have had many trees cut down in Lakefield, Westdene, Kilfenora and the Stewards, which make up LWRA,” said Holdsworth.
“There does appear to be one particular operator doing the cutting – but he is being paid by individual residents who want the trees on their pavements cut down.”
Jane Trembath, chairperson of the Korsman Conservancy, in Westdene, said sometimes trees have to be cut down.
“There was in invasive Chinese Elm in the area, which we had removed recently; but that was done by the municipality, as the tree is invasive,” Trembath said.
She was aware of the trees cut down in Kilfenora, but did not know whether the person or persons responsible had obtained permission from EMM.
Holdsworth was especially concerned about the environmental and aesthetic impact of removing trees in the suburb.
“People move here particularly as it is so beautiful and peaceful,” she said.
“From time to time we have managed to stop tree fellers from cutting trees, much to the chagrin of the owners of the properties, but within weeks we notice they (the trees) have then been poisoned.
This, of course, results in the tree dying anyway.
“From time to time the beautiful leafy trees are removed and replaced with alien trees, like palms.
“The removal of the trees and planting of alien vegetation both have a huge impact on our biodiversity, birds, bees and other important insects.
“We strongly condemn this wanton destruction of our suburb.”
At the time of publication, neither Goby nor the City Times had received answers from the EMM, but Goby was still investigating the matter.
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