Illegal gatherings and fires leave Pieter Roos Park unsafe for residents
Illegal gatherings and open fires have left Pieter Roos Park in disarray, prompting residents to urge authorities to restore safety to the area.
Parktown residents are once again calling for urgent intervention at Pieter Roos Park, saying illegal gatherings and open fires have turned the once-popular green space into a danger zone.
Resident Nazime Randeree said the situation has worsened over the past year, with large groups gathering at the park every weekend. “On Sundays, there can be hundreds of people using the park for church services, social events, and even waste sorting,” he said. “By Monday morning, the park is filthy, trees are being cut down for firewood, and fires continue to burn from the night before.”
Read more: Johannesburg Water responds as raw sewage flows through Pieter Roos Park
Randeree said the gatherings often extend late into the evening, creating noise and safety concerns. “Families no longer feel safe visiting, and even students from Wits University have been warned not to walk through the park,” he said.
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) confirmed that it is aware of the growing problem. Spokesperson Xolani Fihla said officers have carried out several clean-up and enforcement operations to curb illegal dumping, fires, and public drinking.
Also read: Pieter Roos Park left to decay despite years of residents’ pleas
“JMPD is aware of the illegal occupation, makeshift dwellings, and associated safety risks, which include open fires and sanitation issues,” he said. “We have issued fines and removed temporary structures, but these efforts have not yet provided a long-term solution because people often return.”
Fihla said the issue extends beyond policing. “This is fundamentally a social problem. We are working with Social Development to offer displaced individuals alternative shelter options while maintaining visible patrols and enforcing park by-laws,” he said.
Despite these efforts, residents say the park continues to deteriorate. “We’ve been asking for help for years,” Randeree said. “We just want the park to be safe and cared for again. It was once a space for families and the community. Now it feels completely forgotten.”
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