Building still standing a year later
A year has passed since the City of Mbombela Local Municipality (CMLM) promised to demolish a dilapidated structure in a park in Wilger Street, but it is still has not been done.
Last May CMLM spokesman, Joseph Ngala said the municipality had plans to improve the park.
He said they were going to repair the gate and install poles so that they can close access to the area.
This plan followed after community members living next to the park raised concerns about their safety.
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There is a gate, but the fence does not surround the entire park.The community members said the condition seems to be getting even worse.
There is now new graffiti on the wall inside the structure and, according to a community member, there are people living there.
The refuse and empty alcohol bottles still litter the grass. Children still do not use the park.
Eben Blom, a community member residing next to the park, said the municipality needs to do more than what it is doing for the park to be safe and user-friendly.
“As the community we still cannot take walks in that park. The graffiti has returned on the wall and I would not want children to see that.
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“There are thorns on the ground which makes it difficult to walk there. There is overgrown grass on the pavement and also refuse all around. The municipality promised to demolish the structure, but it is still there and there are people residing it now,” he said.
Blom said he has the work done by WeCare4Nelspruit and CMLM should also play its role, too.
“The municipality go to the park and just cut the grass but the refuse, noise and the structure still remain there,” he added.
Elize Oosthuizen, a community member who raised her concern last year, said she is still waiting to see change.
She raised her concern again during a follow-up interview.
“I have seen people doing some work there, although the municipality still needs to do more. I am still not happy with the condition of the park and it is still not safe,” she explained.
Oosthuizen, said memories from the once-safe park are all she has left.
Police spokesman, Brig Leonard Hlathi said the community members need to visit the commissioner and explain the situation if they have concerns.
At the time of going to press Ngala had not responded to Nelspruit Post’s enquiry.
