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.
A 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 would cause trouble for 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 said municipal workers started to cut the grass on January 12.
He has outspokenly blamed the metro, 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.
“I am not pleased with the work that has been carried out here 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.”
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,” du Plessis said.
Meanwhile, the Advertiser visited some of the parks in Boksburg on January 13 and observed that some of the parks were not serviced while others were.
At the Dawn Stephens Park in Boksburg South the park was neatly cut although at a park along Southhvale in Parkrand just after Bokkie Park, the park grass and roadside verges were badly overgrown.
According to a resident, Debi Schlemmer, who raised her grievances on the Boksburg Service Delivery Facebook group, said: “Sadly the park by me opposite the Bokkie, people can’t even walk their dogs there,” she said.
Other comments posted:
Colin Spence said: “The grass by the Bokkie Park and veld opposite it is terrible and very high and disgraceful. A person has to walk in the roads around the Bokkie Park and veld, which in itself is dangerous as you can get hit by a car. The gym equipment that’s by the scout hall is also not usable; the creepy crawlies will carry you away.”
Tahra Holloway: “Took my kids to the park in Cinderella and it was a like looking for a needle in a haystack to get to the swings and slide.”
Chippie Jacobs: “The grass on the isle in Kingfisher Street, Freeway Park, is higher than the trees.”
Johan Delport: “I see the tractor started cutting the field in Freeway Park, Morgenster Road, now it’s gone. Half a job done.”
Acting Ekurhuleni spokesperson, Solly Mashabela, said: ” Due to the festive season break and the increased rainfall, there is a backlog regarding grass cutting. The contractors have started working, and they will soon clear the backlog as per the schedule accessible at the customer care centre.”
Also Read: Grass-cutting backlog blamed on lockdown
Also Read: Council finally gives Boet Human Park grass a cut
