A routine round of tree pruning beneath Eskom power lines has escalated into a dispute between Bryanston East residents and the power utility, with locals accusing contractors of leaving behind hazardous debris and destabilising trees along the greenbelt.

Members of the Bryanston East Community Forum (BECF) stated that they had contacted Eskom’s environmental team weeks ago, but received no reply.

During a walk-through with the Sandton Chronicle, forum representative Ian Tumiel pointed out piles of cut branches left near the wooden pedestrian bridge between Bryanston Drive and 12th Avenue.

Read more: Ready, steady …time to prune

Tumiel argues that the issue isn’t the trimming itself, but the way it is done. He says the contractors cut only the limbs threatening the power lines, leaving others untouched, creating lopsided canopies. “We keep this area neat as a community. Then, suddenly, branches are dropped everywhere and left to rot. It shouldn’t be our job to clean up after Eskom’s contractors.”

The debris has raised several concerns. Residents say it blocks walkways, makes the greenbelt look neglected, and encourages illegal dumping. With high summer temperatures drying out the branches, some fear the piles could pose a fire risk, particularly near the wooden bridge.

BECF is requesting that Eskom clarify whether contractors are required to remove cuttings and what environmental standards they must follow when working in riverine areas.

After a media inquiry, Eskom referred the matter to the National Transmission Company of South Africa’s (NTCSA) media desk, which confirmed that contractors are required to remove all debris after pruning. According to the NTCSA, the cuttings were left in place because the work is still in progress and will be cleared once the job is complete.

Also read: Time to prune and plan your summer garden

On environmental standards, the utility said contractors are trained on internal vegetation-management rules and relevant national environmental legislation. The NTCSA added that contractors hold chainsaw-operator training and pest control operator licences, which cover vegetation-clearing work.

Daily safety risk assessments are carried out on-site, and fire risk is part of each contractor’s baseline assessment.

The name of the contractor was not disclosed, but the utility said they were appointed through NTCSA’s internal processes, and that procedures exist to address non-compliance. Eskom elaborated that the contractor will be instructed to prioritise debris removal, and confirmed that a joint site inspection with residents can be arranged through the NTCSA’s communication and stakeholder relations team.

On the forum’s complaint that previous emails went unanswered, Eskom said the correspondence did not reach the NTCSA central grid, and apologised for the inconvenience.

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