Park causes danger and not joy

STEELPOORT – The horrific condition of a park in Mapodile Township is a safety risk for children who play there.

Mr Sthembiso Lazarus Kwinika, chairman of the Greater Tubatse Environmental Awareness Organisation, was the first to notice the state of the park and reported it to the Greater Tubatse Municipality (GTM).

“My first complaint to them was in 2007. I spoke to DK Boshego, director of community services. She told me that my initiative to fix the park was a good idea and that they would assist in the revamping.”

Since then nothing came of it and in June Kwinika visited the municipality again to demand an answer. “They told me to report it again in 2016 when the new budget would be released, because the R10 million that was allocated for this year’s budget for parks in the Greater Tubatse district was only for the Burgersfort area. They also told me that I could request donations from businesses in the private sector if I wanted to revamp the park this year,” stated Kwinika.

Mr Thabiso Mokoena, spokesman for GTM, said Boshego was no longer employed at the municipality and that Kwinika had to liaise with Ms NP Busani, the new director of community services. He also added that he would look into the matter to determine how the municipality could assist in the revamping.

“My main concern is the safety of the children. This park is an accident waiting to happen. I even constructed swings at my house for the children to play,” concluded Kwinika.

If companies or individuals could assist in the revamping of the park, contact Sthembiso Lazarus Kwinika on 072-747-4920.