Old reserve is now a new informal settlement

Semi-clothed people and backyard mechanics reportedly now inhabit a corner of the Nelspruit Nature Reserve. Residents say the picnic area at the Andries Pretorius Street entrance has slowly been turned into an informal settlement.

According to a local community member, the condition of the reserve has steadily deteriorated over the past 18 months.

“Initially it was just two chaps who had broken into the toilets and seemed to be living behind the palisades for protection,” he says.

Currently he sees 20 to 30 people sleeping there when he occasionally walks his dogs nearby.

He has also come across drunks in various stages of undress, bathing at the taps.

On Sunday he saw some people fixing a car in the area.

There is also evidence of vandalism everywhere in the reserve. Picnic tables and benches have vanished and a lookout platform (a tourist attraction) was burnt to ashes. It was possibly used as firewood as the surrounding bush and grass were left untouched.

Spokesman for Mbombela Municipality, Mr Joseph Ngala, said they were unaware of the situation and would send officials to investigate.

He also said people sleeping in parks were not uncommon as it frequently happened in Johannesburg.

“Job seekers walk around in the city during the day and then look for abandoned buildings or parks to sleep in at night,” he explained.