Spotlight on municipality over park’s decline
The municipality says the primary challenge affecting the Kagiso Regional Park is the persistent vandalism of infrastructure, which significantly undermines maintenance efforts.
Kagiso Regional Park’s state of decline and neglect has raised some eyebrows over the municipality’s competency.
The park was built in 2012 and was often labelled as one of Kagiso’s best environmental facilities. However, more than a decade later, that is no longer the case as pollution, neglect and theft led to its decay.
Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM) confirmed to the Krugersdorp News they are aware of the number of issues that need to be resolved at the facility.
According to MCLM’s Biodiversity Department spokesperson Tendani Shavani, there are plans to refurbish the park but he never confirmed a date.
“The municipality acknowledges concerns regarding the current condition of the park, particularly related to maintenance challenges. However, we want to assure the public that MCLM is committed to the upkeep of public spaces.”
To address the issue of overgrown grass, he confirmed that a contractor has already been appointed and has commenced grass-cutting operations in the park.
“Regarding illegal dumping, MCLM can confirm that this is not an issue within the park itself. The presence of 24-hour security personnel helps to safeguard the area and prevent unauthorised activities.”
He added that the primary challenge affecting the park is vandalism, which significantly contributes to its deteriorating condition. The municipality continues to explore measures to mitigate vandalism and ensure that the park remains a safe and well-maintained space for the community.
Shavani added that the municipality did not neglect the park, however, when the News went to visit the park, images tell a different story.
“MCLM has not neglected Kagiso Regional Park and remains committed to maintaining and preserving public recreational spaces. The primary challenge affecting the park is the persistent vandalism of infrastructure, which significantly undermines our maintenance efforts. Despite ongoing interventions, repeated damage to facilities makes it difficult to sustain the park’s condition over time. While the municipality continues to invest in the upkeep of the park, we wish to emphasize that safeguarding these public spaces is a shared responsibility. We therefore also urge community members to take pride in the park, respect its facilities, and report any acts of vandalism to the on-site security personnel. Community cooperation thus is essential in ensuring that the park remains a safe and enjoyable space for all,” Shavani said.
At this stage, the municipality has not yet determined the exact cost of refurbishing the park.
“A full assessment is required, involving several departments to evaluate the extent of the damage and identify the necessary repairs, particularly to vandalised infrastructure. Additionally, there is currently no allocated budget for the park’s refurbishment. However, once such an assessment has been conducted, the municipality will explore potential funding options to restore and improve the park’s infrastructure.”
