Clean sweep at George Lea Park South as city enforces bylaws
City of Johannesburg municipal departments sweep through George Lea Park South in Parkmore, removing squatters’ belongings and tackling illegal dumping during a high-impact operation.
No space was left unchecked at George Lea Park South in Parkmore as the City of Johannesburg’s Citizen Relationship and Urban Management (CRUM) department led a high-impact service delivery operation aimed at restoring cleanliness, enhancing safety and enforcing bylaws across the park.
The operation brought together multiple city municipal departments and law enforcement agencies, including Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, Pikitup, Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department, South African Police Service and CAP Security.
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Their coordinated efforts focused on clearing illegal dumping, removing makeshift structures and addressing environmental degradation throughout the public space.
Even though none of the squatters were present during the operation, the teams moved through every section of the park, bedding, plastic sheeting and belongings stored in trees were removed, leaving the area cleaner.
Moipone Malaka from CRUM Region B said this coordinated intervention forms part of the city’s ongoing commitment to maintaining public spaces and improving the quality of life for residents.
“The augmented full services unit within CRUM in partnership with the Pikitup and Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, is focussing on clearing illegal dumping, removing unlawful structures and improving environmental conditions within the park. These efforts are directed at preserving a clean, healthy and welcoming space for the community.”
“The social development department engaging displaced individuals in the area through interviews and awareness sessions on the range of support services available through the city. Individuals are also afforded the opportunity to access accommodation at shelters provided by the municipality.”
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Malaka added that the law enforcement agencies, JMPD and SAPS are conducting routine inspections and compliance check to ensure adherence to bylaws and to strengthen the safety in the area.
“The City of Johannesburg remains committed to integrated service delivery programmes and bylaw enforcement programmes that address environmental management, social challenges and public safety through collaborative action.”
Parkmore Community Association manager and Ward 90 committee member Lori Klein welcomed the progress while pointing to ongoing challenges.
“We have had some good progress from the municipal departments and law enforcement agencies here at the park today. There are a lot of displaced people staying in this park, but many of them were not here this morning,” Klein said.
@caxtonjoburgnorth WATCH: Crum leads a high impact service delivery operation at George Lea Park in Parkmore bringing together Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, Pikitup, JMPD, SAPS and CAP Security in a co-ordinated clean-up operation at the park, clearing illegal dumping, removing makeshift structures, and restoring the park’s cleanliness and safety for the community. Video: Xoliswa Zakwe #CRUM #Sandton #JCPZ ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North
“They’ve clearly gone out to do their recycling or whatever they do, but we can see a lot of fires are being made under the trees. A lot of bedding is here, bags in the trees. A lot of that has been removed and it is much neater and cleaner.”
Klein stressed the importance of sustained enforcement.
“In this park, there is a signage which says ‘no illegal dumping’ but unfortunately there’s no compliance. I’ve spoken to JMPD and asked them if they could please look into evening operations as then they will find people here, they will see them making the fires, which are all illegal.”
“I’m thankful to everyone who made this operation a success, but we need to look at longer term cleanups here and putting more pressure on the people that are living in the park and having fires and educating them on the dangers and seeing if there’s a way that that could be moved or relocated maybe in another location.”
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