The long grass along the open pieces of veld in the east of Pretoria is starting to annoy residents and motorists, becoming a question of personal safety. The Wingate Park Homeowners’ Association’s Pine Pienaar told Rekord that crime was a concern, as drug dealing and beer smuggling activities were being conducted in the open veld near the suburb. “We had a serious problem with vagrants squatting in open areas of veld in the past. There is a new group that has seemingly settled in the open veld near the Castle Walk Centre. We are aware of illegal activities, but because of the long grass it is very difficult to patrol the area. The overgrown grass makes it easy for these criminals to settle, as they are obscured. It is definitely a security threat.”
Mike Horn travels on Solomon Mahlangu Drive in the early morning hours on his way to work and told Rekord that he too has seen an increase in the number of people squatting in open areas. “I see the fires in the morning. I think a surprise awaits us when the metro finally gets to the point where they cut the grass.”
Ward Councillor Nick Pascoe told Rekord that the long grass posed a security risk to residents as well as motorists. “Every year we seem to have this problem. I am unable to comprehend why the metro must be reminded that the grass in the open areas is their responsibility,” he said. Pascoe added that the open areas of veld along provincial roads such as Solomon Mahlangu Drive were the responsibility of the provincial government.
“The metro has tried to clear some of the overgrowth at the intersections. The majority of the long grass, however, remains. Calls to the provincial government for maintenance along their roads have up to now fallen on deaf ears,” he told Rekord.
