
An area where families can enjoy the outdoors together, and children can safely play has seemingly been abandoned by its caretakers and become an eyesore.
The Sport, Arts and Culture Department handed over an open-air Trim/Gym to the Lesedi Local Municipality (LLM) on October 12, 2023.
After various inspections and site visits, authorities pinpointed the location on Shalimar Ridge for the gym.
Dignitaries from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and LLM representatives opened the gym.

After opening to the public, the children could not wait to get on the equipment to play. A concern at the time was the vandalism of the equipment and that it had to be fenced in.
According to reports, some swings were vandalised a week or two after the opening. They have still not been repaired.
HERAUT visited the site recently and found the area in disrepair. The grass was long, and broken bottles littered the ground.
The area is not suitable for children.

It is believed the department and the LLM had an understanding that if the area is maintained and looked after, they would expand their donations for more equipment.
Security staff at the stadium, who requested to remain anonymous, told HERAUT various individuals drink alcohol and use and deal drugs on the stadium grounds.
“We feel safer when locked up in a room most of the time due to all that is happening on the premises,” they said.
Ward Eight Clr Yvonne Combrink is shocked by the state of the park.

“Children need a safe space to play, and we must ensure they are as safe as possible. I will contact the parks department to find out when the team plans to clean up the park so the neighbourhood’s children can use it again,” she said.
“LLM spends close to R2m monthly on security. It is now being asked where the money is going, and what it is being spent on, especially when the parks frequented by children daily can not be maintained and looked after.”
Comments requested from the LLM had not been received at the time of publication.
