Petition for Kirkby Road land

Ward 20 councillor Jill Humphreys has prepared a petition to force the provincial Department of Education to maintain the vacant land it owns in Bedford Gardens.

The department recently hired Mr Mike Olifant to clean up the land, which was left unkempt for over two years.

The land is on Kirkby Road.

He told the NEWS the brief received from government included the cutting of the grass, as well as replacing missing bars on the palisade fence.

However, Mr Olifant left the land before the job could be completed sighting non-payment as the reason for leaving.

Clr Humphreys said she was upset that the department let the land become an eyesore.

“Since the contractors left, vagrants have gone back to the land and are putting up shacks and making fires once again. This cannot be allowed to carry on. We need government to take a stand and now,” said Clr Humphreys.

She said because of the private property status of the land, the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) parks department cannot go in and clean up.

Residents living in complexes overlooking the land said they worry about their safety at times.

“The parts closest to our fences have not been cleaned up and this poses a danger as criminals can hide in there while they watch movements in our homes. We need intervention and would be more than happy to sign Clr Humphreys’ petition anytime,” said a resident.

The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) said previously that as much as they can remove and arrest vagrants found to be trespassing on the land, the cases don’t stand in court because the department, as the land’s owner, is not represented in court.

The NEWS received information that business people proposing to buy the land were turned away despite the department being mum about the future of the land.

Clr Humphreys said she will propose to council that the parks department be allowed access to clean up the land.

“It would also help if garden clubs were allowed to use the land in the meantime to plant and beautify the space. It is such an eyesore and I understand why residents are upset,” said Clr Humphreys.