City Parks warns residents to look out for unstable trees as rains intensify
Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo’s call for residents to take caution around vulnerable trees during heavy rains has taken on new urgency, after a Lonehill mother survived a frightening near-miss when a massive tree collapsed in front of her car.
Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) is urging residents across the city to take extra precautions as heavy rains and strong winds continue to weaken trees, saturate soil, and increase the risk of collapsing branches.
The entity says older, heavier trees, with unstable roots, are particularly vulnerable during bad weather, warning residents not to park vehicles under trees during or after storms.
City Parks teams are monitoring high-risk areas and attending to unstable trees, but the entity says public co-operation remains vital. Residents are encouraged to immediately report any damaged, uprooted, or risky-looking trees to Joburg Connect.
Read more: “I would’ve died’ says Lonehill mom after tree nearly falls on her car
The seasonal rains are also affecting cemeteries, with JCPZ cautioning that flooding and soil erosion are leading to grave subsidence, collapsed headstones, and sunken graves. Families are urged to check their loved ones’ gravesites and report any erosion or damage.
As City Parks continues to issue alerts, Lonehill resident Basudha Modak is still traumatised after a massive tree crashed onto Lonehill Boulevard on November 16, landing exactly where her car should have been. “It was horrible. I never thought something like this would happen to me.”
Modak was driving to pick up her son from the D20 conference at the Indaba Hotel when the tree fell directly in front of her. “Exactly where the tree is, my car was supposed to be. A Renault Kwid… It would have been finished, and me along with it.”
She says the thudding sound of the impact, and the popping of branches like gunshots, still haunts her. “I’m going for counselling. It is traumatic, even today. My mind keeps going through that thudding sound, again and again.”
Also read: City Parks clears away debris from Lonehill Park
The loss of the familiar tree, one she and her children passed on daily dog walks for 14 years, added to her distress. “You can clearly see the soil had eroded around the tree. It was a perfectly growing tree. It had many years left.”
Modak reported the tree to Ward 94 councillor David Foley, who said he was relieved she survived the ordeal, praising her courage in speaking about the experience.
“I would like to extend my gratitude to Modak for immediately reporting the incident. Residents like her play an important role in helping us respond to service delivery challenges. Even in the middle of such a traumatic moment, she acted to protect others, and that is something we deeply appreciate.”
How to report tree and cemetery concerns:
• Tree hazards: Joburg Connect – 011 375 5555 or joburgconnect@joburg.org.za.
• Gravesite issues: Cemeteries and Crematoria manager at 011 712 6600/6617.
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