After receiving a report from a concerned resident about trees mysteriously being cut down in the Randfontein area the herald investigated.
According to Lucky Chiya, Spokesperson for the Randfontein Executive Mayor, “The trees being cut down in the area are as a result of a tree maintenance plan.”
Chiya states that, “It is the responsibility of the municipality to plant and also to maintain trees planted on all Council owned land. Maintenance of trees includes pruning, partial or total removal.”
The mysterious trees that are there one day and gone the next are as a result of maintenance for power lines that could possibly sustain damage as a result of the trees falling on them or as a result of wind causing entanglement between the branches and said power lines.
In a previous article in the herald, Chiya stated that the last power cut that was experienced by residents was as a result of the aforementioned problem. This is the way in which the Randfontein Local Municipality is dealing with the problem.
In addition to the above, Chiya states that “Trees are also pruned when causing traffic obstruction, affecting private property and or total removal when it is dry or dying.”
Should residents want to report a tree that is in need of felling, they should contact the Randfontein Local Municipality on 011 411 0000.
If the issue is affecting the normal working of electricity in the area they should use the service number for electricity: 011 411 0235 or 6 during office hours and 011 951 3000 after hours.
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