Pedestrians, many of whom are learners, are still forced to walk in an often-busy street in Carletonville because the municipality refuses to cut bushes overgrowing its sidewalks and pedestrian paths.

Residents and teachers have been complaining about the overgrown sidewalks in the section of Reinecke Street between Topaz Place and Keiskamma Street in Carletonville for more than a year.

Although there used to be a path on both sides for pedestrians to walk on, this has not been cut during the past year and a half.

The sidewalks on both sides of the road are now filled with bushes at least two metres high.

What makes the problem worse is that this part of Reinecke Street is one of only two places where pedestrians can safely walk over the green belt canal.

The problem was previously so bad that a municipal contractor cut the sidewalks by themselves in the first months of 2024. They have not been cut since.

The Merafong City Local Municipality’s marketing and communications manager, Temba Fezani, says that the municipality started cleaning Reinecke Street on Monday, and will soon proceed to other streets.