Danger looms on 5th Avenue in Melville as four large Kapok trees are expected to be removed next week after years of escalating damage to private property and growing safety concerns in the neighbourhood.

The decision follows complaints from a homeowner whose driveway, walls, and gate have been severely affected by the invasive root system spreading beneath his property.

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According to regional manager of City Parks Alton Rankin the resident first contacted Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) in February, warning that the trees posed a danger to both his property, his tenant, and surrounding community.

During inspection, teams identified that the choice of trees for this pavement was wrong, and that the trees should have been planted in a public open space, not in a narrow pavement environment.

Rankin also noted visible trip hazards along the property, while underground infrastructure, including water lines and fibre connections, may also be at risk.

The homeowner had already recast portions of his driveway in an attempt to repair the damage, while the tenant living on the property had complained about limited sunlight caused by the dense canopy overhead.

While no serious injuries had occurred at the time of assessment, he warned that falling branches, especially during periods of strong wind, could have deadly consequences, with the trees having dangerous thorns, posing another risk for pedestrians or motorists using the street.

“Branches falling like this are a sign of trees taking stress and possibly reaching the end of their life cycle. We need to act before there is a fatality or serious damage to the property.

The extent of the root intrusion and deterioration of the surrounding infrastructure indicated that delaying intervention could increase the likelihood of injury, vehicle damage, or service disruptions.”

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Although some residents have objected to the planned removals because of the visual impact and loss of greenery in the heavily treed suburb, Rankin acknowledged the difficult balance between environmental concerns and public safety.

“There is a loss to the ecosystem, but we also have residents whose homes and safety are being affected.”

City Parks confirmed that while the trees will be cut down, the stumps and root systems will largely remain underground because of the risk of damaging buried municipal infrastructure during stump grinding operations.

Rankin indicated that alternative plant life may later be introduced around the remaining stumps once the area stabilises.

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