Enter the jungle
KENSINGTON B – Grass in Kensington B Park has not been cut since October last year.
Kenginston B Park is turning into a jungle because of a lack of maintenance.
KenBrink Resident’s Association chairperson Sandy Heidstra and committee member Reg Schutte explain that the last time Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) cut the grass was in October last year, even though they complained in November.
“This is one of the worst sights,” says Schutte, pointing to trees that the entity cut down at the beginning of January but has left them lying there since.
Sand litters the tar on the playground.
Clothes are found at the edges of the park, which Heidstra says is evidence of homeless people sleeping in the overgrowth at night.
“Over the weekends adults come in their droves, use the park, sit and drink… smashing bottles… and make it unsafe for the children,” Heidstra says.
“If I confront them they get aggressive.”
Heidstra complained to the entity about this issue, and they responded by saying she must call its park rangers for assistance.
But when she did, the rangers arrived too late.
She says she asked the rangers to come on the weekends, but has not seen them.
Residents have organised a gardener to come every two weeks, but there is too much work to do.
The signs in the park are also damaged.
Questions were sent to the entity’s spokesperson Jenny Moodley, and Ward 104 councillor Mike Wood, and comment is awaited.
Details: Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo jcp@jhbcitypark.com or 011 712 6600;
KenBrink Resident’s Association 011 787 6857;
Ward 104 councillor Mike Wood 082 853 2174.
