So says Daggafontein resident Andrew Sadonba (45), who came under fire from his neighbours after cutting down the pine trees located on and around his property.
The Addie reported on the issue after residents complained about the trees being cut down (April 30, ‘Tree cutting irks residents’).
Sadonba says he has, for the last three years, requested the Ekurhuleni Metro to cut down the trees.
He built a house on the empty lot, but could not build a perimeter wall because of the trees.
“People were trespassing and stealing from my property, and I couldn’t put any security measures in place because the trees were in the way,” he says.
When Sadonba wanted to build a wall, the engineering company allegedly told him he had to cut down the trees before building could commence.
“They said the trees were not good for the foundation and they advised me to plant indigenous trees.”
Sadonba says the trees would have cracked the foundation of his walls.
“If the neighbours had a problem, they were more than welcome to knock on my door and we could have spoken about the issue.” he says.
According to Sadonba, after his many attempts to get the trees legally cut, the parks department started cutting the trees about three weeks ago.
He adds the municipality also closed a storm water drain that was causing him problems, for which he is grateful.
Comment requested from the metro had not been received at the time of going to print.
