LETTER: ‘Neglect of Windsor East unacceptable’

Concerned resident Christine de Klerk writes:

I’m not sure where to start … But I can’t just sit back any longer and let things around me deteriorate and do nothing about it!

I’m very concerned about the extreme deterioration and neglect of the areas around Cresta Mall which include suburbs such as Cresta, Darrenwood, Windsor East, Robin Hills and Robindale.

I have gone through the normal routes of reporting and then escalating and escalating again, I have discussed concerns with the councillor for the area for some time now but to very little avail. A few potholes were actually fixed a few weeks ago, after being reported about four months ago.

The cutting of grass on the pavements on Judges Avenue and more recently Republic Road has become a matter of urgency. The grass is also encroaching into the tarmac and is causing break up and damage to the road surface.

Pavements have become a dumping area for garden refuse as well as building rubble. Subsequently, someone has also dug up the pavements to lay cables and just left pavers in piles next to the road and nowhere for pedestrians to walk.

I would like to mention that Joburg City Parks do clean up the parks in the area almost regularly.

Joburg Water fixed a water leak on the corner of Valley Road and Botha Avenue more than a year ago.

To do so they removed a large part of the tar surface and curb, this was just left and is now becoming a big pothole. The water leak on the corner of Valley Road and Countesses Avenue was dug up and a huge hole just left with tape around it.

My concern for a derelict house, where overcrowding and neglect are imminent, has also been passed on to a department for inspection but still, nothing has been done. The sewage spills out of a manhole very regularly due to a blockage.

I have forwarded all the correspondence to my councillor, Beverley Weweje, who has been very sympathetic.

I was informed that a project to resurface Judges is on the cards, but not when it will be done, but still, I don’t think it’s okay to have to drive on roads that are overgrown and neglected.

These are a few issues in my immediate vicinity but it is no different in the wider community. All the main roads are in a state of disrepair including Republic and Malibongwe.

As residents, we pay our rates and taxes and therefore should receive these services from the council.

I have lived in this area for more than 30 years and never have I felt embarrassed to direct people to my home as I am now. The neglect will also eventually have a detrimental effect on the value of our properties.

Surely there should be a maintenance programme for all suburbs and no suburb should be just left to deteriorate, as is the case here.

I’m bringing my frustration into the public domain in the hope that if enough residents agree and insist on better service, we might get the attention of the Joburg City Council and hopefully get some cleaning up of our suburbs done.