WATCH: Officials call for safety clean up at Paradise Valley
A sidewalk, that runs alongside Paradise Valley's entire verge, was discovered under years of dirt and sand.
DESPITE numerous cries of help to create a safer area for the residents of Paradise Valley, the call for aid has largely been ignored by the eThekwini Municipality.
Ian Grieve, a member of the board of trustees who oversees the security portfolio, and a tree feller by trade, noted the Parks Department has been contacted on numerous occasions to cut back the trees and bush on the verge of the Pinetown landmark.
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“We have highlighted the issue with numerous heads of departments for the matter to be looked into and it has been months since this area was last maintained,” he stressed.
“There are now instances where criminals are using the overgrown vegetation to hide in. At the beginning of this year, a thief used the bush to help gain access to the property, break into a home and threaten a resident with a knife.”
During an on-site inspection with the local Ward 18 councillor, Melanie Brauteseth, and the Pinetown Central CPF chairman, Jenny Black, the lack of maintenance was pointed out.
A fully paved pathway, that spans the entire verge of Paradise Valley, was covered in years of dirt and was only recently discovered by Grieve during a clean up.
“We had no idea there was even a pathway here! When I notified the department, they asked me where I bought the pavers from. They had no idea it was there either!”
During his spare time, Grieve attempts to clear up sections of the path so residents at the complex can utilise it and are not forced to walk in the road.
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The large building complex has, in the past, attempted to cut back the verge at their own cost but were instead issued with a fine for illegal dumping.
“While we were doing a massive clean up, we had a pile of branches and debris on a side verge for collection when we were complete. Instead we were given a fine for illegal dumping. When we asked them how to better go about it, we received silence in response,” noted Grieve.
Brauteseth said she was shocked by the lack of maintenance by the Parks Department over the past 20 years in the Paradise Valley area.
“The trees have not been pruned for years, the street poles are engulfed by branches and they have had the odd break-in where cellphones and laptops have been stolen. If the bush and trees were cut back and maintained, as it should be, none of this would happen,” she said.
The eThekwini Municipality failed to respond to questions by the time of publication.
Ward 18 residents can contact Melanie Brauteseth via email at melsward18@gmail.com or 073 257 8574.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
