Residents in Carletonville and Fochville are raising ongoing concerns about overgrown open spaces that they say have become hiding spots for criminals and pose a danger to the public.

Community members report that the municipality has for years failed to maintain vacant land and roadside areas, allowing grass and bushes to grow unchecked.

One of the worst-affected areas is along Reinecke Street, where the sides of a bridge have become heavily overgrown. According to residents, the thick vegetation creates ideal hiding places for criminals and forces pedestrians to walk in the road due to blocked walkways, putting them directly in the path of oncoming traffic.

In Carletonville, many of the problem areas are located in the central and eastern parts of town. Residents living near Dolomite Drive, including those in Zinnia Place, say several house robberies have occurred in homes bordering overgrown land. Similar concerns have been raised by residents of Lignite Street.

“We do not know who actually owns these empty spaces, but this is certainly a public safety issue,” one concerned resident said.

In Fochville, frustration is also mounting, particularly in the southern parts of town between Kerk Street and Danie Theron Street. Residents in areas around Potchefstroom Street and Siebert Street say they have been pleading with the municipality for years to cut the grass in open yards between these streets.

Responding to queries, the municipality’s marketing and communication manager, Temba Fezani, said that the bushes along the bridge in Reinecke Street are scheduled to be cut this month.

Residents, however, are calling for more consistent maintenance to ensure their safety and prevent crime.