Wilgeheuwel reed problem sorted out by community
WILGEHEUWEL – Residents rally together to cut grass and remove reeds causing a risk to pedestrians.
WILGEHEUWEL – Individuals from Little Falls, Strubens Valley and Wilgeheuwel took time off from their busy weekend schedules to stop the risk of pedestrians who are forced to walk on the road because of overgrown grass and tall reeds on the pavement near an ecological site in Wilgeheuwel.
On 18 February, residents embarked on a clean-up campaign that would ease the problem. The grass-cutting was conducted on the corner of Florin Road and Belini Crescent, involving My Neighbour, a residents’ association, Eyes At Work, a local optometrist and BCI security .
A concerned resident, Helen McDonald, explained the purpose of the campaign, “What led to this [campaign] is that we approached the council to assist us with cleaning the reeds [in the area], particularly at the corner of Florin Road and Belini Crescent because pedestrians could not walk there.”
McDonald added that she was left shaken after a seven-year-old boy had to walk in the middle of the road to try and avoid the reeds on the footpath. “He was in such terrible danger because the reeds were so tall and the cars coming behind him couldn’t see him,” she said.
She alleged that she contacted the Johannesburg Road Agency and the area’s councillor, Leah Knott of Ward 97 and was told council does not have funds until June.
Knott disputed the allegation, saying that she advised about dangers of not cutting the reeds and the effect it has in the ecology and promised to take the matter further with the relevant department.
Another resident who wished to remain anonymous told Roodepoort Northsider that they had to get assistance from private businesses because the reeds were not only a risk to pedestrians but also a fire hazard to businesses and townhouses in the area.
The resident also shamed local councillors for constantly failing to attend community meetings where concerns oare discussed.
On Spring Road in Constantia Kloof, another resident also complained about reeds from a river bank growing onto her property. She pleaded with JRA to look into the mess and the sand eroding from the river, causing the river bed to expand.
Earlier this month, City of Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba announced that R4 million had been allocated to citywide grass cutting.
Bertha Peters-Scheepers, spokesperson for the JRA confirmed that the grass cutting project was underway across the City’s seven regions.
She provided a schedule per region with priority roads and time frames.
View the list on www.jra.org.za
