Alien plants, to be more precise. The brook running through Excell Park, which joins up with the Klein Jukskei River, has become overrun with non-indigenous bug weeds (solanum mauritianum). This causes even further erosion along the riverbank, as reported by the Northsider earlier this month.
Although numerous complaints regarding the issue have been logged with City Parks, nothing has been done.
“These weeds have taken over the Klein Jukskei River,” said Ward 126 councillor, Mike Tonkin. “And the coming rain season will just aggravate the already grave situation.”
Bug weeds are labelled Category 1 invasive plants and are known as ‘transformer’ weeds for their ability to completely transform any landscape.
“Seeds are carried along the brook that runs through the park, to the Klein Jukskei River and they sprout all along the riverbank,” according to Tonkin. “Birds also eat the berries of the plant and excrete the seeds in other areas, worsening the problem.”
These weeds deprive indigenous plants of water and essential minerals. Northsider has approached City Parks on the matter, but was still waiting for an official response at the time of going to print.
“The continuous state of service delivery is appalling,” said Tonkin. “These weeds create an eyesore in the middle of the park. Add the vagrants who make fires and leave garbage strewn everywhere, and we’re in for an environmental disaster.”
