Overgrown grass along a public open space between Victoria Park and Helderzicht in Somerset West allegedly poses an immediate risk for muggings, assault and other crimes to the community.
This is the concern raised by residents as well as members of the Victoria Park Neighbourhood Watch (VPNW), who, in a bid to address the matter, has been engaging City of Cape Town officials.
According to VPNW coordinator Darryl Käsner, a footpath through the open space is used by children in the community to get to Gordon High and Danie Ackermann Primary schools as well as ordinary community members moving between the two areas.
“We’ve been requesting that the necessary maintenance be carried out on this property to keep our children and residents safer when using the thoroughfare,” he said. “We have already had attempted muggings on these erven, and a few years ago more serious crimes occurred due to its providing cover and a hiding place for criminals.”
But to date little to nothing has been done, Käsner added.
Just last week a small vegetation fire caused mild panic among residents when it flared up, but it was quickly doused by firefighters. It, however, indicated the level of vulnerability in the community due to the unmaintained space.
According to the City, it is working tirelessly to address maintenance of public open spaces, by tackling rising mowing demands.
This follows delays in procurement processes, which have resulted in delays in grass cutting, although measures are in place to reduce the impact.
“The Recreation and Parks Department has 12 mowing teams comprising more than 1 000 staff members in total. They are employed as operators and full-time workers, equipped with vehicles and machinery to attend to grass cutting, weed control and tree maintenance,” the municipality said in a statement.
“Working according to maintenance schedules, these internal resources provide 40% of the capacity needed to meet maintenance standards.”
Patricia van der Ross, Mayoral Committee member for Community Services and Health, was asked what residents should do to address potential criminal attacks in the interim.
She replied: “The Recreation and Parks Department is working closely with the City’s Law Enforcement Department to help mitigate crime on public open spaces. Residents can also report incidents immediately to City Law Enforcement on 021 480 7700 or send an email to RP.enquiries@capetown.gov.za.”
Van der Ross added community involvement has shown to be one of the topmost contributors to protecting recreational facilities as valuable community assets.
“The City calls on residents to put forward any ideas on how to effect a change in behaviour from within the community, or volunteer to get involved in expanding the reach of City resources at public open spaces by forming groups such as neighbourhood watches,” she implored.
The City further stated interim measures put in place include revising schedules and adjusting the number of cuts, as this will reduce the frequency of mowing in one area, but increase the total number of areas that can be serviced.
There will also be allocations of budget for staff to work overtime on Saturdays to meet service delivery targets, and the prioritisation of major roads, travel routes and emergency deployment to safety hotspots.
Van der Ross said once issues with the mowing schedule has been resolved, the erf in question between Victoria Park and Helderzicht which is categorised as “undeveloped open spaces” – and as per approved departmental minimum maintenance standards – should be mowed to a minimum of four cuts per year and vegetation control to be done as and when required.
