FENCING a park in Kempton Park West will not deter the illegal activities taking place there.
This is according to Themba Gadebe, metro spokesman, after being approached by the EXPRESS regarding the park on Parkroete and Skoolroete streets in the suburb.
“The ward councillor can place the community fencing request on the next Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality’s IDP and the community’s request will be noted. In the meantime, a joint blitz team will assist with monitoring these activities,” he added.
Ward councillor Tracey Butler said she was appalled by the arrogance, aloofness and disregard displayed by the metro following the substandard service delivery in the parks in Kempton Park West. “I submitted a petition to the Speaker of Council, Patricia Kumalo, urging the metro to take action.”
She said residents had called on the metro to fence off the park and open a controlled access point to them in order to create a safe environment.
“Residents have told the DA there were high levels of people publicly drinking, particularly among the youth, who also play loud music and leave broken glass behind every weekend. Residents have also reported that the youth engage in sexual activities and take drugs in the park.”
Butler said in his response to the DA’s recent petition, the regional manager of the metro’s parks department, Gawie van der Merwe, said the park would not be fenced off in the near future.
“He also said grass cutting in the parks was done in accordance with the approved grass-cutting programme of the metro. He stated that the delay in grass cutting on the playground of this park was due to the vandalism of the equipment.”
Gadebe said the grass in the park was last cut in May.
“The park was inspected on July 27 and it appears that the two jungle gyms have been vandalised. A contractor will be appointed to repair them. The glass on the old tennis courts will also be removed,” Gadebe said.
