City’s service delivery operation slammed by residents
City's High Impact Service Delivery Operation in Strydom Park did not make the expected difference.
The Strydom Park Ratepayers Association (SPRA) is not pleased with the city’s High Impact Service Delivery (HISD) Operation that took place on July 30 on the corner of CR Swart Dr and Fabriek Street.
Led by the Citizen Relationship and Urban Management (CRUM) region B and other stakeholders, including SAPS, Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), City Parks, and PikitUp, it aimed to clear illegal dumping and remove homeless and waste pickers from around the spruit.
Karolynn van Vuuren, chairperson of the association, said that while they appreciate the effort and the presence of multiple stakeholders during yesterday’s clean-up, it lacked leadership and coordination. Nearly an hour was lost to inefficiency, and the initiative’s momentum suffered as a result.
“If we are to take these operations seriously, JMPD needs to step up, either by being better resourced or rethinking its deployment priorities.” She further stated that the operation, unfortunately, made very little visible difference in the area.
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“While we saw brief activity, much remains untouched and unresolved. It’s disheartening, and it underscores a painful reality: the city’s service efforts are not just lacking, they are insufficient. We’re being offered crumbs to placate taxpayers, while fundamental issues persist and deepen.”
She added that these blitz-style clean-ups, held once or twice a year, do little to maintain safety or sustainability. Illegal activities resumed almost immediately after the operation.
“Without consistent and strategic follow-through, these events become token gestures rather than genuine solutions. What we need is ongoing monitoring and dedicated enforcement, not these sporadic interventions that give infringers a six-month holiday from scrutiny.”
The SPRA is calling on residents and property owners to go beyond simply supplementing city services.
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“It’s time we take full ownership of what the city fails to do. Whether through financial contribution or time investment, community-driven action is no longer a nice-to-have; it’s an urgent necessity. The state of our greenbelts, roads, and drains demands more than photo opportunities and fleeting initiatives. We need persistent care, proactive enforcement, and unified local involvement.”
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