Community meet up highlights safety concerns and restoration vision for Alberton Dam
Broken play equipment, damaged public facilities and neglected spaces at Alberton Dam have prompted the Pompidelik Community Initiative to call for urgent guidance from the City of Ekurhuleni as the group pushes to help restore the area for local families and children
The Pompidelik Community Initiative hosted a community gathering on May 17 at Alberton Dam to raise awareness of safety concerns, neglected public facilities, and the long-term vision of restoring the area into a cleaner, safer, and more family-friendly public space.
Despite a smaller-than-expected turnout, the community meetup brought together families, friends, and supporters for an afternoon focused on connection, awareness, and community pride.
Children played while residents enjoyed a relaxed braai and discussions about the future of the dam and surrounding public spaces.
For organisers Jacques Nel and Janine Strydom, the gathering served as another reminder of why the Alberton Dam Restoration Project matters.
“This is not just about cleaning up a dam or making a public space look better. For us, this is about families, children and restoring pride in a place that has so much potential”, said Strydom.
The purpose of the event was not to begin physical restoration work, but rather to bring people together, discuss concerns about the area’s current condition, and continue building support for the project’s long-term vision.
ALSO READ: Residents call for action to restore Alberton Dam
One of the main concerns identified during the gathering was the condition of the children’s play area, which the initiative hopes to prioritise once guidance and approval are received from the City of Ekurhuleni.
According to the organisers, several safety hazards were observed, including broken wooden structures, unstable sections, damaged climbing areas, exposed nails, potential fall risks on the jungle gym and general deterioration of equipment still accessible to children.
“As parents and community members, we cannot ignore what we saw. We want families to be able to sit, braai and enjoy the dam without worrying that a child may get hurt on broken play equipment. Our children’s safety must be a priority.
“We are passionate about getting things done, but we want to do it the right way. Jacques and I are willing to arrange support, involve private companies, and source sponsored services or materials where possible. We are not asking the public for money; we are asking for guidance so that we can help,” said Strydom.
The initiative also highlighted concerns around damaged concrete bins, broken seating areas, deteriorating fencing, damaged braai facilities, faded signage and neglected sections of the public space.
Photo: Supplied
Nel and Strydom stressed that the project aims to work with the City of Ekurhuleni in a constructive and respectful manner.
The initiative said that weekly follow-up emails have been sent to the city while awaiting guidance on the correct approval processes and the departments responsible for public facilities and play areas.
“We would really appreciate feedback from the CoE on how we can move forward. If there is a process to follow, we are ready to follow it. If there is a department we need to work with, we are ready to engage. We just need direction so that we can start making a positive difference,” said Nel.
The long-term vision for the Alberton Dam Restoration Project includes improving cleanliness and safety around the dam, restoring public spaces and play areas, improving signage and bins, promoting environmental awareness and encouraging residents to take pride in the area again.
The initiative also warned residents to remain cautious of any payment requests claiming to be linked to the project, stressing that the project does not request money from the public.
Community members are encouraged to join the official WhatsApp group for project updates.
ALSO READ: Community invited to support Alberton Dam restoration vision at family get-together
Official updates regarding the initiative will also be shared on the Pompidelik website and on Jacques Nel’s official TikTok account, @pompidelik.
Community members can also contact Pompidelik via the official project WhatsApp number on 066 239 4973.
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