Residents raise funds to barricade river abused by alleged church members
Jukskei Park residents have stepped up with solutions to their ongoing concern of alleged church members and healers who leave Robyn Park polluted with dirt every week.
For months Juksei Park residents complained about church members and healers who leave the riverbanks of Robyn Park in a pigsty state, week after week. They tried everything within their power to get it resolved with various stakeholders, however, none of them worked in their favour.
They decided to take matters into their own hands. Murray van Zyl said to Fourways Review that he gathered community members who live near the river to raise R50 000 for a palisade fence of about 110m.
“We are hoping to fence between the Mangaan Bridge to the weir to restrict access from large groups to the weir. Access will still be granted to healers but it will be controlled and at a time that is conducive to everyone’s happiness.”
Access to the park after the success of the initiative would come with terms and conditions, according to van Zyl.
“There will be a locked gate and controlled access, no access before 08:30. Only groups five or smaller and last access at 3pm. There is a surplus fund for repairs that is inevitable and a group of volunteers to reach out to if there is damage to the fence. Security will inspect the fence every morning. No trespassing signs will be erected as well as access rules.”
He admits they have no intentions of preventing anyone access to the waterfall used by healers and people wishing to practise their beliefs, however, large groups that do not have a signed Joint Operations Committee (JOC) in place will be prohibited.
“We are busy communicating or attempting to communicate with City Parks but as with everything government-related, they are very slow to respond,” And if they do not reply? “We will absolutely wait for them. We are going to do this by the book and unlike the groups invading the park, will abide by the law,” he assured.
Ward 106 councillor Chris Santana has had a hand in escalating Van Zyl’s idea to the relevant authority in an email seen by Fourways Review.
It reads.
“Jukskei Park has been overrun by religious ceremonies and rituals daily, weekly and weekends. Churchgoers are being bussed in from far and wide and who are not ordinary residents of Ward 106. Residents are subject to drumming, slaughter of chickens, indecent exposure to naked people, and defecating in open public spaces, starting from 04:30 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
“The situation is deteriorating weekly, as the city fails to uphold its by-laws. JMPD is called every weekend to address this, generally, they only attend to the matter after 08:30. No real solutions have been forthcoming from the city, no JOC applications, no park rangers, and no environmentalists assessing the impact and damage caused to our riverine.
“Once again, the residents of Jukskei Park are prepared to step up and provide a solution, by electing to fence a portion of the park from Mangaan Bridge to the weir in an attempt to reclaim the park that they have adopted for the community at large. I support their request to fence the area of concern.”
Van Zyl said they have currently raised about R 48 200 and counting.
André de Bruyn said, “It shows that if the community stands together we can succeed and Murray van Zyl and Brian Cassin are young guys with energy and drive. We must protect our area to ensure value for our properties.”
When contacted for comment, City Parks’ Noeleen Mattera said she would revert with a detailed response after forwarding our query ‘to the relevant regional manager and park rangers department’.
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