Motorists travelling along the M1 towards President Steyn Street were recently met with an unpleasant sight: overgrown grass, littered verges and a general sense of neglect that left many questioning whether routine maintenance had fallen off the metro’s priority list.

The stretch of road, a key route used daily by residents and commuters, had deteriorated to the point where tall grass encroached on pavements and rubbish accumulated along the side of the road.

For many, it created not only an eyesore but also safety concerns, particularly for pedestrians and drivers navigating the busy corridor.

“It honestly looked like the area had been forgotten. The grass was so tall in some sections that you could hardly see clearly when approaching intersections. It gives a very bad impression of our community,” said resident Maria Nkosi.

Another resident, Johan Nkadimeng, said, “We drive this road every day. When the grass isn’t cut, and rubbish is left lying around, it feels like no one cares. It also attracts more dumping because people think it’s already dirty,” he said.

However, members of AfriForum North of the Berg’s Neighbourhood Team stepped in to restore order.

Armed with gardening equipment and refuse bags, volunteers cut the overgrown grass and removed visible litter along the affected stretch.

By mid-morning, the difference was already noticeable. Clean verges and trimmed grass transformed the appearance of the road, drawing positive reactions from passing motorists and nearby residents.

According to AfriForum North of the Berg, the clean-up forms part of its ongoing community-building efforts aimed at maintaining safer and cleaner neighbourhoods.

The organisation mentioned that they cannot ignore the visible decline in certain public spaces, and when infrastructure and open areas are not maintained, it impacts safety, property values and community pride.

The organisation also called on residents to become more involved in community initiatives.

“With the community’s help, we can get more teams on the ground. The more residents participate, the more areas we can maintain and monitor.”

Also read: These five areas are using the most water in Pretoria

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok or WhatsApp Channel