There is a crisis brewing in Middelburg’s recreational areas.

The Middelburg Observer has received complaints from residents over the last few months about the state of the parks.

Aerorand, Kees Taljaard, and the OR Tambo Park in Mhluzi seem to be most affected by loud noise, littering, and illegal drinking.

On Mondays, residents have to bear the brunt of others who have riddled the parks with their rubbish from the weekend.

Some residents have even found condoms lying on the ground at the Kruger Dam.

Last Friday at around 18:30 at the dam, five men allegedly incited fear in other residents who were at the park when they fired a shot in the air and fled the scene.

Two eyewitnesses said they were busy cooking pap for the fish they had just caught.

After watching the men fish from a small boat, the men returned to the shore and started consuming alcohol. One man then opened fire.

A security company that was patrolling the area quickly rushed to the scene.

A resident who was also driving in the area heard the shot and made his way over to the eyewitnesses.

The resident stated that he called the police for about half an hour without being able to reach them.

The eyewitnesses were then taken to the police station to report the matter.

Residents fear that the incident could have been fatal, “It’s dangerous, especially happening near a school and residential area,” the resident said.

• Three weeks ago, the Middelburg Observer sent a media enquiry to the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality about the state of the parks and why law enforcement officers don’t patrol parks regularly. Feedback was not received on the matter.