GALLERY: Who let the cows out?

Residents of Randpark Ridge are up in arms about livestock that have regularly been allowed to graze in a public park. The green belt running between the Lifestyle Garden Centre and the Honey Crest Shopping Centre plays host to a variety of animals every day.

There is a smallholding at the southern end of the park off Kayburne Avenue that hosts a number of animals including sheep, cattle, geese and large horses. Every day the gates into the public park are opened and the animals make the journey under Beyers Naudé Drive via a drainage tunnel all the way to the end of the park which can be accessed via Houtkapper Street or Duiker Avenue. The animals spend most afternoons grazing in this wider area.

Stephen Doherty, a resident in the area and former chairperson of the Randpark Ridge Ext 5 Resident’s Association, states that he has been battling this issue for over four years. “It’s dangerous. People don’t use the park anymore. A child could be gored by a bull. Someone could be kicked by a horse. [City of Johannesburg] should enforce the bylaws, before one of the residents gets hurt.”

Maggie Marais, a resident who uses the park to walk her dogs, recounts, “I was chased by a bull a couple of times, it was really scary. I shouted to [the owner] to collect his animals. We don’t have a good relationship, him and [I]”.

Jenny Moodley, spokesperson for Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ), who had traded numerous emails with Doherty, commented: “Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo has been alerted to this concern and has deployed the rangers on various occasions to resolve the matter. The owner of the cattle maintains that he has the approval of the City but has failed to produce the approval letter.”

The owner of the property is Dr Giorgio Tomma. He stated, “Consent by the residents of Extension 22 has been granted verbally.” He added that the presence of the animals is beneficial as it keeps the grass from growing too high, which prevents fires, and allegedly prevents vagrants from living in the park. “I have been in contact with City Parks since 2013… requesting them to accord me some kind of concession or permit to take my livestock there. They have not come back to me with a negative answer. They have confirmed my application is still being processed… Only recently I was requested to produce new certificates and confirmations which I am currently in the process of getting together.” Dr. Tomma referred to the complaints as “grossly unfair” but stated that if his livestock is no longer tolerated he will remove it.

JMPD spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar stated that JMPD was working together with the JCPZ and the SPCA on the issue. “He stopped after being issued with a notice. If he has started again, we will launch a follow-up operation,” said Supt Minnaar. He was, however, unable to provide a time frame for the follow-up operation.