Residents want Jansen Park cleaned up

A lack of service delivery in Ravenswood and Jansen Park poses a danger and health risk to residents.

The park on the corner of Edgar and Vickers streets has been an overgrown eyesore, although metro workers eventually cut the grass last week (March 29).

When the Boksburg Advertiser visited the park on March 24, we found it overgrown and strewn with litter.

On the day they cut the grass, a municipal worker said they were responsible for only cutting, and other workers would have to be sent to clean up afterwards.

According to a resident of Ravenswood, Zizipho Hlatshwayo (17), homeless people sleep in the park too.

“We don’t feel safe at the park anymore because it is overgrown and occupied by suspicious people.

“The park has been in this bad state for a long time. Even my parents don’t want me to come to the park because they believe I will be robbed and hurt,” she added.

A person we spoke to at the park, who asked to remain anonymous, said some people also use the park as a toilet, thanks to the long grass.

“A lot of people need jobs, and I think the metro should take this opportunity to employ people who will take care of these parks daily.

“It’s not only this park that looks bad. Many other public areas are overgrown and neglected in Boksburg.

“During apartheid, such public areas were taken care of. You would never have been subjected to what we are subjected to now,” said anonymous.

Hennie Pienaar, who lives near the veld on Edgar Street, pleaded with the metro to cut the grass next to his home.

“I don’t feel safe. There is also illegal dumping here, and it will only be stopped if the grass is cut because the dumpers will be noticeable and identifiable,” explained Pienaar.

According to Tony Grobelny from Jansen Park, “taxpayers need to know what our money is being wasted on because it is not being spent on maintenance in our city.”

He further said his electricity box outside his complex is open, and anyone can switch the power on and off.

“There are many single parents in our complex. It is up to me to check what the problem is at night when there is no electricity.

“I cannot lock the box because it is the municipality’s property, and it will cause problems if I lock it and they want access to it.

“This is the third time I have reported this electrical box since December, and nothing gets done.

“Parks and open spaces in our area are overgrown. There is grass growing in the streets, illegal dumping, filth and rubbish lying everywhere, a rat problem behind the SPAR because of all the rubbish and illegal dumping, and dustbins in the park and on the sidewalks are overflowing.

“This pathetic service delivery is totally unacceptable,” said Grobelny.

He added that residents take it upon themselves to cut the grass in front of their complexes.

“They all contribute money toward this for their own safety. We need the council to do something about these issues.

“We also have an issue with potholes on Sydney Road. Despite trying to fix these ourselves, they can’t be filled,” he said.

Also Read: Metro teams out in force to tackle long grass

Also Read: Littering an issue in Boksburg area