Residents expressed their concern when they witnessed three alien trees being cut down in Rogies Park at the weekend and two containers being dropped off on Monday morning, 14 October.
Rumours started circulating the park was being fenced off, a squatters camp was emerging and preparation was being done to build a block of flats.
“There is no cause for concern,” said ward 97 councillor, Andre Beetge. “Following discussions on strategies to remove informal traders from pavements, eThekwini Municipality’s marketing and business support unit conducted a study and found the park conducive for the extension of the formalised trading thatch northward towards Rusoord and the erection of a store room and toilets adjacent to the existing L-shaped thatch.
Not only will this go far in removing illegal or informal traders from the streets and afford formalised traders shelter during trading hours and safe storage of their merchandise, but it will also enhance the general appearance of the park.”
The two containers have been adapted to a site office and two mobile toilets will be placed towards a corner of the park for the duration of the renovations. They, along with the actual construction site, will be fenced off for safety reasons. The contract is scheduled to run for 100 working days and will be finalised by March 2014.
