Multiple parks in disrepair
More than three years after it was first reported, the municipality appears to be unaware of the situation in numerous parks in Mbombela.
In October 2014 Nelspruit Post reported on the state of the park in Ehmke Street. At the time there were squatters in the park and illegal economic activity taking place.
The community and municipality subsequently worked together to restore the park to a more acceptable condition. It has since fluctuated between being in an acceptable state and various states of disrepair. People are using Ehmke Street park as a drinking hole.
The paper has also reported on various parks in West Acres since 2014. These have included the parks in Leadwood, Belladonna, Wilger, Marble and Grosskopf streets. In all these parks the issues included squatters, illegal gatherings, alcohol consumption and littering. According to a journalist who visited Wilger Street park, the area was in the process of being cleaned up.
This week Nelspruit Post went to investigate the state of the parks in Leadwood and Belladonna streets. People were observed smoking dagga at Leadwood Street park, in broad daylight. The Belladonna Street park was used as a drinking hole.On Monday, empty alcoholic beverage bottles, bottle caps, shards of glass and pieces of paper were scattered over the park.
Joseph Mabuza, spokesman for the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison said:
“The department was not aware of the situation regarding the state of Leadwood and Belladonna street parks. That said, we will refer the matter to the municipality so that they can attend to it”.
At the time of going to press, municipal spokesman Joseph Ngala was not available for comment.
