POLOKWANE – Residents in Kgaka Street, Rainbow Park claim that the municipality is negligent when it comes to cleaning an open piece of veld behind a municipal park in this street.
Review visited the veld and found that it was overgrown with bushes and there were also several big trees that had clearly not been pruned for a long time, if at all.
Kwena Mogotlane, a resident who lives in Kgaka Street, said only a fence separated this overgrown park from their backyard. “We fear for our safety. Behind our house next to our fence there is a big tree. There are homeless people who sleep in the bushes under that tree. During the day they are not here, but they come at night and then they make a fire, which could easily cause a veldfire and this could spread to our home, which could burn down,” a worried Mogotlane said.
She added that there were also couples who came in the morning and had sex under the tree where the homeless people sleep. “My mother chased a few of them away, because they are not quiet when they do these things. They come to the tree, because it is big and thickly overgrown and they can hide there. We also fear that soon criminals will hide in these bushes and break into our homes. The municipality must please do something about this problem,” Mogotlane pleaded.
Another resident, who wished to stay anonymous, said the municipality was aware of the problem as it had been reported. “There are also creatures living in these bushes, and some of them like snakes, could be dangerous.”
According to the resident the municipality claimed it did not know who the owner of the property was.
Tididmalo Chuene, a municipal spokesperson, said residents should bring the problem of the homeless people to the attention of the department of social development and report any criminal activities to the police.
“We don’t just remove a tree because people do not like it. Our duty is to protect and conserve the trees. For any complaints or suggestions residents can contact our environment unit at (015) 290 2366/2001/2002,” Chuene said.
