Bureaucracy plays foul with Townsend Park
Over the next two years the Samuelson's did everything in their power to get permission.
For the last two years R50 000 worth of playground equipment intended for Townsend Park in Ballito has been gathering dust. Now the Department of Public Works has thrown a possible lifeline.
The playpark was the brainchild of elderly couple Mariè and Bernard Samuelson who live opposite the park, who wanted to give something for all the children who visit the popular public spot. This included a jungle gym, swing and slide, roundabout, spinning wheel, see-saw and a small obstacle course.
“We have two grandchildren aged four and five and when they visit us they have nowhere to play. This made us aware of the need and we decided to donate the play park to the town,” said Mariè.
On September 4, 2014 they met with the KwaDukuza municipality parks and gardens department which allocated them a suitable area (next to the tennis courts).
“They told us to go ahead and we were delighted. So I had the equipment manufactured by Jabula Play in Umhlali,” she said.
The Samuelsons then asked the municipality for a letter confirming they had permission to erect the equipment.
“This was when we received word from KwaDukuza municipality that the land actually did not belong to them but to the Public Works department and that permission was needed from them first.”
Over the next two years the Samuelson’s did everything in their power to get permission.
“We have written dozens of emails to the municipality, met with the then Ballito councillor Colin Marsh and even sent a letter to mayor Ricardo Mthembu begging him for help, but we did not even receive a reply.
“The KwaDukuza parks and gardens department then suggested we use another park but we feel strongly that Townsend Park is the largest and most accessible park in Ballito and so why shouldn’t Public Works agree to the play park?”
The North Coast Courier approached KwaDukuza municipal spokesperson Sifiso Zulu who promised that the municipality would take up the issue with Public Works.
However, the Courier also contacted Public Works directly and immediately received a response from spokesperson Mbulelo Baloyi.
“The General Manager for property management did visit the sites in question and we can confirm that the land indeed belongs to the provincial Public Works department. The GM for property management is expected to make a decision this coming week with respect to the request to have the land used as a playlot.”
The Samuelsons said they were excited that Public Works had responded and hoped that the matter would be resolved soon.
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