Kwa-Thema – Frustrated residents of Kwa-Thema, Ekurhuleni decided to revamp the Nyanyadu Community Park with recyclable material after years of it being neglected and not maintained by the CoE.
The park has since turned into an illegal dumping site. The steel benches and jungle gym which were installed four years ago have been damaged.
The area has turned unsafe as criminals would wait for unsuspecting residents using it as a throughway and mug them of their belongings.
Two months ago the residents decided to rebuild the park after they were told by Ward 77 Clr Thulane Dunjana that the CoE doesn’t have funds to rebuild the park.
A resident, Tshepo Matseke, said, “We have identified that crime is increasing in the area; one of the measures we decided to implement was to rehabilitate the park.”
“We collected some building materials from dumping sites and old palisade blocks which were removed from the Kwa-Thema Sports Complex which is currently upgraded,” he continued.
“Residents who also had left-over materials donated it towards the success of the project,” he said.
The group’s plans also include re-installing the jungle gym, cement benches and a soccer pitch.
This will ensure that children in the area have the facility close by to use during the school holidays without having to go to neighbouring areas.
ALSO READ: Hospitality industry is not for the faint-hearted
In his comment, Dunjana said he approached the metro with a request to revamp the park but due to financial restrain “we were advised that the maintenance will be prioritised in the next financial year.”
“We have asked for quotations from the residents and have offered to write motivational letters on behalf of the community to use when they go out seeking funding.
“On our side, we are knocking on different doors seeking donations in the form of building material especially cement cones that will be used to balance palisade blocks,” he concluded.
