Mature tree’s roots cause havoc in East Town
Residents endure frustrations following a mature tree's roots damaging critical power infrastructure.
Residents of East Town expressed frustration over ongoing power outages that started on August 8, caused by the roots of a large tree that damaged a underground medium-voltage cable.
A contractor, from City Power, confirmed that the root growth had led to the prolonged disruption of electricity in the area, causing damage to City Power and Johannesburg Water cables.
Resident Nadim Hassan stated: “It is sad that we, as residents, have to came to a situation like this,” noting the anger among residents over the lack of power that they experienced.
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Hassan revealed that the issue had persisted for months, with outages lasting from three to four days at a time. “They fix it within three weeks, but we sit without power, and everything in the fridge runs dry.”
Regional manager at Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) Alton Rankin explained that the mature pepper tree had grown in a confined space, leading to damage to the power cables. “This tree has been here for many years, and unfortunately, it was planted in an area that was not properly planned for its growth.”
He noted that the tree’s stump diameter suggests it has been in place for 50 to 60 years. Rankin emphasised the importance of understanding the growth patterns of trees in urban areas. “When trees grow in servitudes, or between walls and roads, their root systems seek the easiest way to grow, which can lead to damage to pavements and roads.”
He added that, while the priority is to protect the trees, safety concerns may necessitate their removal if they pose a danger to life. The tree stump was removed by City Parks, which revealed the damage sustained to the cables.
JCPZ has set a target to plant 14 000 trees annually, but Rankin acknowledged the challenges of doing so in densely built-up areas, like Region B. Rankin added that JCPZ is willing to collaborate with other entities to develop strategies for managing tree growth and infrastructure. “Unfortunately, we can only respond to issues like this when they arise, as we cannot predict what happens underground.” He reiterated the need for careful planning and foresight in urban tree planting to prevent future incidents.
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