The Ekurhuleni metro has finally cut the grass at the Atlas Spruit Park, in Atlasville.
This is after the metro came under fire following a resident’s death who took it upon himself to cut the long grass after months of no maintenance.
The 76-year-old man, Jacques (Jack) Leroy, was stung by a swarm of bees on December 26 after he went to trim grass around a meter box in Atlas Spruit Park near his home on the corner of Kakelaar Street and Nightingale Road, thinking that the overgrown grass was an eyesore and would hamper the electricity box.
He died at the Pholosong Hospital in Brakpan in the early hours of January 1 after being admitted at Tambo Memorial Hospital on December 26.
Ward 23 and DA Shadow MMC for Environmental Development in Ekurhuleni Andre du Plessis has been outspoken about the incident, stating the bee attack is indirectly the fault of the Ekurhuleni metro as no grass cutting had been done in the park which resorted to Leroy taking matters into his own hands.
He said municipal workers started to cut the grass in Atlas Spruit Park on January 12.
“I am not pleased with the work that has been carried out here though because the grass cuttings were not removed. The current Ekurhuleni grass-cutting policy is limited in the sense that it puts out a tender to contractors that give them the option to only cut the grass and not remove the grass cuttings.
“A tractor comes but it is not followed by weed eaters to ensure they remove grass around rubbish bins where a tractor can’t reach,” said du Plessis.
The ward councillor said there seems to be no coordination between the parks and waste department because the litter was still visible around the whole park.
“The Ekurhuleni metro must change its policy so that when contractors go out to cut grass, they must be obligated to remove the grass as well as the rubbish,” du Plessis said.
He said the metro has its delivery standards for grass cutting but they are not followed.
“According to its norms and standards, Atlas Spruit Park is a flagship park which should be serviced in four cycles a month with the grass cut to between 25-50mm but that is not happening.”
