Any takers to help Greenhills Circle?

In the past seven years, I have seen the Greenhills Circle in its good, bad and ugly state.

This circle is supposed to be a mini hub for residents to do their shopping safely, efficiently and quickly, without having to drive to other areas such as Helikon Park and the CBD, or worse even, Krugersdorp, as this takes the revenue away from Randfontein.

I have seen Tony’s and the Blue Bottle bottle store try SO hard to keep the parking area clean and painted and even re-configuring the parking to make it more viable, and Lou Brits, from Dalou Investments, fighting to have a Capitec ATM installed and adding cameras for safety. This seems all in vain. And what a pity!

Although Tony’s has contributed to an improvement, they are also the culprits in other issues, such as delivery vehicles blocking the road behind the shop on the corner of Palm Avenue and Convent Road, as well as washing debris down the road that eventually runs into Kenneth Road. Tony’s is also using the old hardware store across the road as a storage facility, but it has become a “hang out” for vagrants and undesirables, with graffiti blatantly painted on the walls and the sidewalk knee-deep in weeds.

The Spar and Tops on the opposite corner are fighting a losing battle with illegal hawkers bombarding cars with illegal goods as soon as one stops – you are not even out of your car yet! And do these sellers take “NO” for an answer? Absolutely NOT!

I have complained to the security guards and Spar management. I was told that they have on numerous occasions called the police, who in turn then remove these “sellers” but lo and behold, tomorrow they are back, and even more! Can Spar not take some initiative here? I refuse to shop at Spar anymore as I feel accosted by vagrants and illegal sellers, and my daughter and friends share my sentiments.We’d rather drive to Helikon Park’s Pick n Pay, although we live only 900m from the circle!

With all these undesirables hanging around one cannot DARE use one of the ATMs either (IF they work). I personally have been intimidated at the FNB ATM, but luckily I am not easily intimidated. But not everyone is like me.

The Palms Centre that forms part of the circle is another nightmare! The entrance (in Kenneth Road) to the parking for the flats above the shops always has parts of garbage bags and garbage strewn all over. It is unsightly and unhygienic! Don’t the flats have people cleaning? The weeds along the side and in front of the centre are higher than most people’s knees. Again – can’t the body corporate of Palm Centre employ someone to keep the area clean and well kept? Two local restaurants/ pubs are situated in this centre, as are one of the two video shops in the area, and a water/ juice shop, and the list goes on. NOT to mention that there are people LIVING above the shops overlooking this parking area that leave much to be desired! Their health and safety should be top priority.

And then last but not least, the “car guards” at Palm Centre, who, according to my information (and I have spoken to three of the six shop-owners), have no authority to be there and if they are asked to leave they intimidate patrons and workers, damage property and turn up like a bad penny, week-end in and week-end out!

Fellow residents of Greenhills and Homelake (and other suburbs that might enjoy shopping at the circle as well): Am I the only person that sees this? Am I too critical? All I want is a shopping area that we are all proud of, love to support and feel safe in, irrespective of the day of the week or time of the day.

I offer my assistance with whatever needs to be done, and that is in my power to assist with, to make this our pride and joy. Any takers?