MONDEOR – It has been months, dating back to 2013 when Mondeor resident Mr Pillay laid the first of many queries to City Parks about overgrown grass.
The untidy open lands have been the bane of Mr Pillay’s existence, as he says that the overgrown grass on Adelaide Road in Mondeor has done “a great job of devaluing their properties”.
Reaching out to the CHRONICLE was the only unexplored option, as he had for months been collecting reference numbers from Johannesburg City Parks.
The ANC Regional Office, Mr Pillay claims, offered no assistance when he reached out to them to report “poor service delivery” by Ward 25 Councillor Solly Mogaswe. Mr Mogaswe was not available for comment when a CHRONICLE reporter contacted his office. Councillor Willie van der Schyf committed to requesting Mr Mogaswe to contact the newspaper as soon as possible. His response will be published which will address Mr Pillay’s concerns.
Ward 54 Councillor Sergio Dos Santos has also been accused by Mr Pillay of not being efficient in dealing with overgrown grass complaints in areas such as Bellefield Park.
City Parks spokesperson Jenny Moodley responded to complaints: “The scheduled grass cutting for areas below commenced in Mondeor this morning (April 14) and will continue until complaints are resolved.”
Moodley says that the rains exacerbated by the warm weather have resulted in unprecedented levels of overgrowth, and they urge residents to please be patient as City Parks systematically resolve all complaints.
Clr Dos Santos in March indicated that City Parks had informed him that there was a new strategy to address the backlog, and maintenance teams would be doing blitzes in various wards. However, Dos Santos complained about the workmanship, calling it ‘unacceptable’.
“Most of the parks were cut in patches, others were not even touched,” commented Dos Santos. “
An upset Mr Pillay called the CHRONICLE, complaining that City Parks seems to be handing out tenders to different contractors who just take payment but do not concern themselves with getting the job done.
“It would seem like there were two contractors. The park along Dungarvan/Downham Avenue and the park along Fernhurst and Ormonde was very well done and no reason to complain. The park along Frandaph Drive/Chelverton must have had a different contractor, because this was not up to the same standards as the other two. Yet again, Bellefield Park remains attached!” complained Dos Santos.
City Parks continued to explain that: “City Parks is mindful of the quality of the cut during wet weather. The challenge is that many parks are water-logged. This limits the access to mowers and the horticultural team have to go in with handheld brush cutters. Again we ask that residents please be patient as we resolve these annual seasonal challenges.”
