Residents of Tarentaal Street in Struisbult are frustrated with the people cutting down the blue gum trees in front of their houses.
Elize Johnson and Nira Lötter say several men, armed with electric saws, have been busy felling the trees, since Wednesday, for no apparent reason.
These trees, in a short strip of land between Tarentaal Street and the Nigel/Springs railway line, opposite Johnson and her neighbours’ houses were, according to Johnson, planted to act as a wind-break.
It also provided shade for their homes from the harsh afternoon sun.
These trees have been at this spot for the 47 years Johnson and her family have been in their home.
She says these blue gum trees are very old and it is a disaster that they had to be felled.
Upon confronting the men, Johnson says she and her neighbours are getting different answers each time.
One answer a resident received was that the people living in Tarentaal Street had too many trees and that the men cutting them down needed the wood.
Another man cutting down the trees said they had permission to do so, but could never produce the proof of it and another answer was that the area was being cleared so that this piece of ground can be developed.
Johnson says no-one could give her and other residents any answers on why they are being felled.
While the residents are sent from pillar to post, the men are tirelessly continuing to fell the trees.
Shadow Shabangu, ward councillor of this area says heard the trees had to be removed because Transnet is establishing a new railway line between Springs and Nigel.
At the time of going to the press this could not be verified.
