Residents living near Alberts Farm Park have raised concern about regular ritual gatherings and church activities at the popular green space, saying the events are disturbing the peace and damaging the natural environment.

According to Marianne Coetzee, of the Friends of Alberts Farm Conservatory, groups gather at the park once or twice a week, often continuing late into the night. She said the noise from chanting, shouting, drumming, and other sounds frequently begins before sunrise and can continue throughout the day. For residents living right alongside the park, the impact is significant. She added that the disturbances are most noticeable over weekends, as activity peaks on Saturdays and Sundays.
Coetzee highlighted that residents have also raised concerns about behaviour they have witnessed during some of these gatherings. “Items such as eggs, milk, rice, maize meal, potassium permanganate, and household detergents have been poured into the park’s dam. There have been instances of nakedness, beatings, fires being lit close to trees, smashed glass bottles, littering, and the burning of candles.”

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Others reported activities include trampling vegetation, clearing rocks, harvesting plants, breaking open termite mounds, and digging temporary ablution pits. While residents say they have not personally witnessed the sacrifice of animals, they claim to have found animal carcasses left to decompose in the park.

According to Coetzee, the dam water appears increasingly polluted, and regular park users have reported seeing fewer frogs, birds, and crabs over time. Large areas of the park, particularly along the ridge and near the spring, have also become littered with broken glass, making them unsafe for visitors and pets. “The trampling, clearing, fire pits, temporary ablutions, litter, and substances left have a significant negative impact on the natural habitat and ecosystem of the park.”

Residents have also reported that access to nearby properties is sometimes affected when large numbers of cars park near the entrance closest to the dam. She noted that residents have reported the situation to authorities repeatedly over the past 15 years, but claim that responses have been limited and engagement with enforcement agencies has not been sustained.

JMPD responds to worshippers

The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) said it remains committed to maintaining order in public spaces. JMPD Superintendent Xolani Fihla said the department regularly responds to complaints at parks across the city, including Zoo Lake, Delta Park, Bordeaux Park, and the Braamfontein Spruit. However, he said the department has not recently received official reports regarding late-night gatherings at Alberts Farm Park. “Neither the regional office nor the ward councillor has flagged these particular nighttime incidents. Monitoring parks during late hours is primarily the responsibility of the by-law management unit, which operates a parks patrol unit.”

Fihla also said that there has been no formal reports or evidence submitted to the department regarding allegations of animal slaughtering at the park. He encouraged residents to report incidents immediately, so authorities can collect evidence in real time. He noted that JMPD regional and by-law management unit patrols are conducted at Alberts Farm and surrounding green spaces as part of weekend operational plans, depending on available resources and the prioritisation of major events across the city.

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According to Fihla, officers recently responded to several complaints involving worshippers, and instructed them to vacate the area. He added that the JMPD operates within the law, and is aware of a recent court order relating to the park, which guides how enforcement actions are carried out. Public spaces in Johannesburg are governed by the City of Johannesburg public open spaces by-laws, which regulate religious gatherings and prohibit unauthorised animal slaughter.

JCPZ acknowledges spiritual gatherings at Alberts Farm

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) spokesperson Jenny Moodley confirmed that religious and spiritual gatherings do take place at Alberts Farm. She said the site includes a natural spring that some community members regard as spiritually significant, and that it is used by various faith groups for prayer and religious activities. “As a public open space, Alberts Farm is accessible to residents and visitors who make use of the park for a range of lawful recreational, cultural, and spiritual purposes.”

Moodley stated that the conservation area is patrolled by City Parks rangers, although the entity encourages park users to remain vigilant. She urged residents to report any suspicious or illegal activities to the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department so that enforcement action can be taken.

She added that JCPZ continues to monitor activities in the park to ensure the space remains safe, respectful, and accessible to the wider community, while protecting the environmental integrity of the area.

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