Parktown residents are calling for urgent action to address ongoing safety, health and maintenance issues at Pieter Roos Park.
A local resident, who asked not to be named due to safety concerns about living in the neighbourhood, highlighted several problems affecting the public space. These include makeshift structures, littering, illegal dumping, open fires, trees being cut down for firewood, and vehicles – including delivery motorcycles – being parked within the grounds.

Residents have also raised concerns about public health, poor maintenance, insufficient by-law enforcement and the impact of the park’s condition on the surrounding neighbourhood. Safety issues have affected the park’s use as a recreational space, particularly for families and children, while nearby schools, hospitals and the Constitutional Court precinct have also been cited as areas of concern.

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) spokesperson Jenny Moodley acknowledged the ongoing challenges, confirming that the park continues to experience littering, illegal dumping, makeshift structures and the accumulation of trolley loads of recyclable waste. Moodley said JCPZ teams conduct regular grass cutting, horticultural maintenance and cleaning.

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Clean-up and restoration operations accompanied by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) are also carried out regularly. However, the department said improvements are often short-lived because of recurring littering, waste accumulation and the re-establishment of informal structures.

Moodley said an increasing number of displaced people, including individuals relocating from Johannesburg’s inner city, had sought refuge in the park. The entity manages more than 2 175 public open spaces with fewer than 1 400 employees and 42 park rangers, making permanent security deployments at individual parks impractical.

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The department said lasting improvements would require a co-ordinated response involving law enforcement, social development services, shelters, healthcare providers, rehabilitation facilities and employment support.

During a site visit on October 14, Ward 67 councillor David Modupi outlined a proposed revitalisation strategy involving private management of the municipal property. The proposal includes exploring lease agreements with private operators, introducing revenue-generating initiatives and strengthening safety measures. It also aims to address criminal activity and unauthorised occupation while creating employment opportunities and generating municipal revenue. Further details, including an implementation time frame, have yet to be established.

Moodley said JCPZ remained committed to restoring the park’s recreational value and welcomed partnerships with residents, businesses and civil society to help safeguard public spaces.

The City of Johannesburg and JMPD were sent media enquiries on October 13 and given until 08:00 on October 15 to respond. An update will be provided once they do.

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