Anger at overgrown Phoenix parks’ dilapidated equipment
KEVIN Naidoo expressed his frustration at the lack of service delivery from the municipality’s Parks, Recreation and Culture Unit in maintaining green spaces in Phoenix.
The Longbury resident said a number of parks in Phoenix were overgrown and had broken or old play equipment.
The parks are in Tynecroft Place, Longbury Drive, Chadbury Close, Lanbury Close and Southbury Drive.
“Places where children are expected to play are left unmaintained for months. A resident from Palmford told me that the manager of parks for Phoenix, Victor Chetty, had a meeting with residents from that area in January and promised to cut the grass and install new play equipment within a week. Weeks have gone by and nothing has been done. It is a similar situation in parks across the area.”
Naidoo said he has called the Parks Department on a number of occasions but has been given the run-around.
“Often the phone just rings continuously and is never answered. I have asked to speak to Victor Chetty on the occasions the phone is answered but he is never available. Service delivery (in Phoenix) has dropped drastically due to poor management,” he said.
Ward councillors in Phoenix agreed overgrown grass in parks was a problem but said they were doing their best to address the problem.
Ward 50 councillor Solly Singh said the cycle of grass cutting was taking longer than expected and delays in trimming the long grass posed a risk to the community because of snakes and rodents as well as muggings and crime. Criminals could hide in the unmaintained parks, he said.
“They (unit) have one trac- tor but this cannot be managed for the whole of Phoenix and outlying areas. The community is left worse off.”
Ward 48 councillor Shunmugam Moodley said while there was a problem with maintenance the recent rains also resulted in grass growing quickly even after being cut.
“The grass in my ward was cut last week but has grown very quickly and needs to be cut again. Each area has six grass cuttings a year and I try to save one for around Christmas so the area looks good for everyone returning home and families can enjoy the parks.
“I understand people are up in arms over this issue but the grass is being cut. It cannot be cut more often because of budget constraints.”
Moodley said council recently approved seven grass cuttings a year and hoped the extra cut would help address the problem.
Ward 49 councillor Donovan Pillay said councillors were meeting Victor Chetty on Friday about the issue and would, hopefully, have positive feedback for residents.
City Watch will report back on the meeting next week.
Pillay said: “This is an ongoing issue that needs to be resolved. We are following protocol. If we are not satisfied we will escalate the matter. This meeting is the first step.”
City spokeswoman, Tozi Mthethwa, did not respond to questions sent this week.
City Watch will follow up on this issue next week.