Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) has confirmed that severe storm activity during January and February caused widespread damage across public spaces, including fallen branches and uprooted trees at Braamfontein Cemetery.

According to JCPZ spokesperson Jenny Moodley, street tree teams are continuing clean-up operations, with priority given to hazards and obstructions that threaten safety and infrastructure. She said horticultural grass-cutting teams are scheduled to begin work on February 9 as part of the city’s planned maintenance programme.

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Moodley said Johannesburg, like many large cities, faces maintenance backlogs across public assets, such as cemeteries, parks, and street trees. These challenges are driven by seasonal growth, the size of the network, and resource limitations.

While storms cannot be prevented, Moodley said JCPZ has established 24-hour standby emergency teams to respond when trees and branches block infrastructure and major arterial routes. However, she acknowledged that the city is facing multiple service delivery pressures, requiring budgets to be prioritised for critical services, such as potable water. “As a result, fallen trees in parks and cemeteries are generally addressed after emergencies are cleared, unless they present an immediate safety risk.”

She added that JCPZ conducts ad-hoc monitoring of trees in cemeteries as part of ongoing environmental and horticultural management, with street tree managers across the city’s seven regions focusing on risk-based assessments and pruning during storm seasons. Limited resources and competing service delivery demands, she noted, continue to shape how work is prioritised.

Braamfontein Cemetery forms part of the city’s scheduled maintenance programme and is monitored through regular operational site visits. Tree-risk assessments are carried out based on observed risks, service requests, and seasonal patterns, particularly during periods of heightened storm activity.

When asked whether JCPZ has sufficient staff, equipment, and budget to manage storm-related damage, Moodley confirmed that dedicated teams and 24-hour standby capacity are in place, but equipment remains limited.

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She said widespread seasonal storms increase demand across the city, often extending turnaround times in parks and cemeteries as resources are allocated according to urgency and severity.

Addressing concerns about damaged headstones, Moodley said JCPZ recognises cemeteries as places of respect and heritage, and works carefully to minimise disturbance near graves. She reminded residents that maintaining individual graves remains the responsibility of families, though JCPZ often assumes additional responsibilities where families no longer visit.

JCPZ has not yet completed its assessments following the seasonal storms. Current work has focused on safety hazards and access. Should grave damage be confirmed, Moodley said the city will follow internal processes and engage families through cemetery management.

Residents are encouraged to log service requests through Joburg Connect on 011 375 5555 by pressing option 0, ensuring incidents are formally recorded and routed to the relevant teams.

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