Overgrown grass concerns residents
The state of Tzaneen has left many residents concerned about their safety as some areas show a lack of maintenance by the Greater Tzaneen Municipality.
Grass overgrowing sidewalks and parks, especially at the Agatha road graveyard, have residents up in arms.
This comes after Laetitia Vermaak took to social media to show the state of the graveyard on Agatha road, near Tzaneen Industrial.
Vermaak said it looked like the graveyard had not been maintained this year.
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Speaking to Letaba Herald, Vermaak said that she visited the graveyard in October last year and it was well maintained. When she went again in December, she noticed that no maintenance had been undertaken.
“On Saturday I returned for the first time since December. It honestly doesn’t look safe. It is very quiet and with the overgrown grass, it makes it hard to feel safe enough to get out of your car,” she explained.
She said there was no sign of maintenance being done around the area or that it would be done anytime soon.
She had spoken to the municipality regarding the overgrown grass. She was told that budget cuts have halted the work.
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“The subcontractor is overpaid for a simple job. Now the place looks like a complete mess because they cannot afford to pay a subcontractor anymore.”
Another resident contacted Herald and raised a similar complaint about the overgrown grass outside the Malaria Institute.
Herald contacted the Greater Tzaneen Municipality for comment regarding the complaints received by the residents.
“We had machenical problems with our grass cutting equipment in the past week and the individual that fixes the equipment was on leave but is back now, as soon as the equipment is in a good working condition those areas will be given the necessary attention,” stated Neville Ndlala, GTM spokesperson.
When asked about the issue of a budget cut, Ndlala told Herald that it is not true.
