Rumarais Park resident calls out City Parks over uncut grass

The Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo has reiterated the call to homeowners to maintain the sidewalks outside their homes.

This response follows complaints from residents about the entity’s failure to maintain the grass and trees on these sidewalks.

A resident of Rumarais Park, Cedrick Manique, expressed frustration at having to continually cut and maintain the grass and trees located along the sidewalk, an operation he labelled as ‘costly’. “I’ve been battling this problem for seven years and despite various appeals to the entity, they only came out the one time to cut the grass but since then, nothing has happened,” he said.

“It is unfair that I pay my rates and still have to continually cut the grass on the sidewalk and the trees, which cause a mess in my backyard when the leaves fall.”

Manique stressed that, although some residents could afford to continually maintain the grass and trees, it was an expense that others, like himself, could hardly afford. He called on the City to explain whose responsibility it was to maintain the sidewalks and for the responsible party to do their job.

Responding to Manique was Jenny Moodley, spokesperson for City Parks, who clarified that it was not the entity’s responsibility to maintain residential sidewalks, but rather the residents’. “We have requested that residents maintain the sidewalks adjacent to their homes [and] in many instances residents are managing these areas as an extension of their private gardens,” she said.

“Suburbs that are being beautified by homeowners are reaping the benefits with higher property values and a greater sense of neighbourhood pride.”

Moodley concluded by reiterating the entity’s duty was to maintain sidewalks along commercial hubs, schools and public spaces.