The ongoing presence of vagrants at Pretoria North City Hall and the nearby Vader Kestell Park continues to spark concern among residents, with growing calls for sustainable, long-term solutions to address the issue.

Despite repeated removal operations by the TMPD, individuals sleeping in the park and surrounding areas continue to return, highlighting what many see as a cycle of displacement rather than resolution.

Ward 2 councillor Quentin Meyer acknowledged the frustration felt by residents, noting that public spaces are meant to be safe and accessible for everyone.

“The situation is understandably frustrating for residents. Public spaces like parks are meant to be safe, clean, and accessible to everyone, and illegal occupation affects both cleanliness and the sense of safety,” said Meyer.

He added that the matter is being addressed through engagement with relevant municipal departments.

“We are aware of the issue and are engaging the relevant departments to address it in a lawful and humane manner.

“In the meantime, residents are encouraged to continue reporting incidents so we can maintain pressure and work towards restoring the park for community use.”

Feedback from the metro suggested that the issue is not linked to a lack of maintenance, but rather to ongoing challenges associated with vagrancy and illegal dumping.

According to metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo, the park, officially known as Vader Kestell Park, is subject to daily maintenance by the city’s Parks and Horticulture teams.

“The metro’s Parks and Horticulture services have daily maintenance plans for Vader Kestell Park, such as litter picking, sweeping, weeding, cleaning, and waste removal,” said Mashigo.

He confirmed that the metro is aware of the park’s condition, adding that internal resources are solely responsible for its upkeep, with no plans to appoint external contractors.

Mashigo stated that the park’s infrastructure remains intact and suitable for public use.

“The play equipment is in a good state for children to utilise. It should be noted that this is a public space and therefore stationary security services cannot be provisioned due to financial constraints,” he explained.

Mashigo added that the TMPD conducts regular visible policing in the area.

“The challenge with the park is that there are vagrants that use it, especially in the evenings, and cause excessive dumping and littering through recycling activities,” he said.

A resident, Natasha du Plooy, said she no longer feels comfortable visiting the park with her children.

“It’s a mess. People sleep and litter at the park. Sometimes, you need fresh air but when you think of going to that park, it’s a turn-off.”

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