Resident wary of uncut grass posing danger to kids and motorists
“Then JCPZ say they only have the budget to do main arterial, and for me, that is just not good enough," laments councillor following allegations of financial shortages for grass cutting.
A Halfway House resident claimed the grass on the corner of Kaufman and Old roads has not been cut for nearly two years.
Logie Naidoo (76) contacted Midrand Reporter on March 10 and claimed the grass had last been cut in February 2021. The pensioner said, “Our question as residents is what is happening to the money we pay in rates? Whose pocket is it going into? I request the mayor and the premier to come and view or inspect in and around Midrand, especially the overgrown grass and thousands of potholes.”
He said as the community they have had enough and need to be treated like ratepayers who did not default on their rates.
Midrand Reporter contacted Ward 132 councillor Annette Deppe and she said she had been asking Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo for over a month to come cut grass in her ward.
She claimed Joburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) was ‘boycotting’ her ward and in previous years, they used to cut the grass twice a year in February and October.
“This has now fallen by the wayside. I have been asking them for five to six weeks to cut grass in Ward 132 and still nothing. They received the budget from Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA) and keep promising they will come and still nothing,” said Deppe.
“Then they [JCPZ] say they only have the budget to do the main arterial, and for me, that is just not good enough. Our residents are getting angrier and I understand their frustrations because I am also frustrated.”
City Parks regional manager in Region A Joseph Ndou said City Parks had an adequate budget to maintain its portfolio. “JCPZ is utilising both internal employees to maintain its facility in the region. Also, external service providers augment the internal team to ensure that Region A maintains its portfolio according to the set standards. Since the start of the active season, Region A has been maintaining its portfolio fully.”
A query was sent to JRA on March 14 to ask if they were aware of the issues and had not responded at the time of going to print.
Related article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/285817/service-delivery-woes/
