Residents from the west of Pretoria are fed up with tall grass in the neighbourhood.
They are especially worried the tall grass served as hideaway spots for criminals and impacted motorists’ visibility.
Concerned resident, Kleintjie Janse van Rensburg, said overgrown grass was a problem especially at the stream in Booysens.
She said the trees and the grass at the stream were “out of control”.
“Criminals use the tall grass to hide from police,” she said.
“Opportunistic vagrants also use it as places to sleep.”
Road safety was also a worry.
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“At stop signs, the grass is so tall you must edge your car almost into the street to see if there is any oncoming traffic,” she said.
Proclamation Hill resident Ziyad Layte agreed the grass was affecting motorists’ visibility.
“We almost had an accident on the corner of Mica Street and Kruisbessie Avenue the other day,” he said.
“We reported the problem to the metro and according to ward councillor Carlo de Bruin the metro’s brush cutters are in for repairs.”
“Now, we ask, what are the alternatives? We get no answers.”
He said some residents even offered to contribute towards petrol for anyone who can volunteer the use of their brush cutters.
“This was just to mow the grass at street corners, so we can avoid serious accidents,” he said.
Layte claimed trees and grass in the area have not been cut over the past three months.
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“The grass is so tall we can’t see if anyone is hiding in open fields,” he said.
“It is a safety worry for myself and my neighbours.”
Janse van Rensburg said the overgrown grass has been reported to the metro by their ward councillor Frik van Wyk “on several occasions”, but to no avail.
She said the tall grass was also becoming a pest problem.
“We do not know what type of vermin, not to mention snakes, has started nesting in the grass,” she said.
“Something must be done urgently.”
Local ward councillor Elma Nel said tall grass was also a problem in her ward.
“The metro cannot keep up with the maintenance of the grass as a result of the recent rain we experienced,” she said.
“If they cut the grass this week, the grass will be just as long the following week.”
The Tshwane metro said last month they were aware of the problem.
They said they have since procured the services of contractors to strengthen their manpower.
The metro said it also extended their working hours to include weekends to address the current backlog.
ALSO READ: Overgrown grass cut in the west
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