Jukskei residents clean up the parks
JUKSKEI PARK – Support the residents who are fed up with government's lack of service, and join the river rehabilitation and clean-up community initiative of the Juweel Park.
Fed up with the slow service from City Parks or lack thereof, Murray van Zyl took it upon himself to get involved and clean the parks.
He said the parks in Jukskei Park were overrun with vagrants and litter.
“City Parks is overwhelmed by the enormity of the clean-up and so [they have] neglected the park for over 10 years. As a resident of the area, I was appalled and decided to try and make a difference,” explained Van Zyl.
He added that in parnership with Green Beings, they have raised money and now the park has become a public project.
“So far [we] have managed to remove four cubic metres of rubbish from the park and 10 tons of alien invasive plants and trees.”
Van Zyl added that in this community initiative, they are also joined by Sentient Security, as well as the local building company that lends them a hand by providing staff.
Fury Ford bought a chainsaw and Stihl South Africa discounted their top-end equipment for them to buy.
Bidvest Managed Solutions kindly donated R 10 000 and 15 staff to help with this project.
According to Van Zyl, “We hope to remove most of the alien invasive species along the Klein Jukskei River that flows through Jukskei Park, by the end of August; about 200 indigenous trees have been donated to replace the alien trees that we are currently removing.”
He said the repair bill for the bridge alone is R 500 000.
“If City Parks had spent 20 per cent of this amount on the park, and maintained the bridges, the floods would never have happened.”
On 20 June they are planning to conduct another clean-up on the corners of Robyn and Platina streets, in Jukskei Park.
Van Zyl said they will be clearing the upper end of Juweel Park which runs along Robyn Street.
“The teams [will] meet at 8.30am when I will do a short safety meeting, split the crews and let everyone know what the objective for the day is.”
Van Zyl further added that they need community support as they are planning a further clean-up mid-July, and a community tree planting at the beginning of August.
The public is urged to join these community projects and give a hand where possible.
Details: Murray Van Zyl murray@presclean.co.za or 082 899 2558.
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