Emma Park is slowly turning into informal settlement

Emma Park forms an important part of the city’s green belt but is being destroyed by pollution and vandalism.

Sharon Harte drives past the park daily and despairs at its destruction. “Not only is it increasingly filled with litter and rubbish, vagrants use the stream for washing, but are also ‘setting up’ informal sleeping areas.”

She says, “I was there last week and there were 12 guys in their shelters with more people settling up further upstream.”

She and Ward 99 councillor Nicole van Dyk both bemoan the lack of service delivery from Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo for a lack of action despite reports being filed over several years.

As with so many open spaces, Van Dyk says, “The city does not have an answer to the homeless problem in the park and there does not seem to be the political will to help us. I have sent hundreds of emails over the years for a solution.

“It is hard to get photographs of displaced people, but they are there. Augmented Field Services under Citizen Relationship Urban Management (CRUM) tackle the park once a month, but it is not a solution.”

She describes them as having a team of 10 people per ward who clean hotspots once a month.

“This is a fight I have been having with the city for seven years. Annually, I request for the park to be fenced in my submissions for the integrated development plan, but it is not recognised.”

She describes for the last five years a growing homelessness problem with people defiling the park, and waste pickers who leave behind unwanted rubbish after sorting what they want.

“I and the local inspector arrange clean-ups that involve multiple agencies to clean the area, but it only helps for a day or so.”

JMPD she says does not go in nearly as often as she would like, “We have to beg them to deal with the illegal traders and keep an eye on the park.”

City Parks ‘does not take any interest in the park despite them knowing the dangers of it becoming another crisis hotspot like others across the city’.

“Several trees have fallen into the spruit which cause a litter back-up. This flows through the Darrenwood Old Age Village. There are often complaints of a terrible smell from litter and faeces that flow through the river into their grounds.”

The paper has seen a trail of emails to the city which show how different city departments need to tackle various aspects of the problem. This according to Van Dyk and Harte means there is little accountability.

Spokesperson for City Parks Noeleen Mattera said, “We are aware of the issues raised at Emma Park. It is concerning to hear about the deteriorating environmental conditions at the park and the potential impact on water systems and natural environments. Addressing such matters requires collaborative efforts between residents, local municipal entities, and relevant authorities like us, JMPD the by-law enforcement unit, social development, CRUM, etc. Our Park Rangers do patrols but do not have the authority to arrest displaced persons.

“It must be noted that the facility is not owned by City Parks, but is mandated to carry out maintenance as Johannesburg Property Company manages all properties on behalf of the city.

“It is important to note that these very entities have together with the councillor and community members, executed numerous blitz operations in Emma Park where clean-ups have successfully cleared these areas of waste and degradation.”

Emma Park is considered a developed park which is maintained once a month as per the maintenance schedule, which is carried out by City Parks. Horticultural services include grass cutting and tree pruning. “Litter picking is done at least once a week,” she says.

“The facilities management department is investigating the possibility of erecting palisade fencing.”

Related article:

No real help available for tenants of a building in Fairland which is abused by the homeless