Residents in Thornton have raised their concerns after the grass has not been cut and maintained since April this year.
They claim this is creating a fire hazard.
“We are still waiting for the grass to be cut; it is a fire hazard and a playing field for snakes,” says Maryanne Jordaan.
The residents’ concerns and alertness are because there have been two fires in the past, “one which we as residents extinguished and one the fire brigade needed to come and extinguish. And lately it has been windy”.
“Why does Pinelands get attended to first?”
The grass was supposed to be cut on 15 October, but nothing has been done yet, residents claim.
No faith in the ward councillor
According to Jordaan, they have no faith in their councillor – “he either ignores emails from residents about urgent matters, has a memory lapse, or says he will respond and take action.
“But we have seen no action regarding cutting of the grass and the regular dumping that continues to happen on the canal.” Jordaan says that the grass was never cut in winter and is becoming so high that criminals can hide there.
Patricia van der Ross, Mayco member for community services and health, says “mowing was done in July for the first quarter as per the contingency mowing plan. The next mowing in the area is scheduled to take place this November. Community structures were advised via the local sub-council office. In the interim, weed spraying is scheduled for October in the Thornton area.”
Department is experiencing delays
“The current contingency mowing plan provides 40% of the internal resource capacity needed to meet maintenance standards. The Department is currently experiencing delays in this process. However, measures have been put in place to provide the service using the available capacity, although it will be reduced (frequency of cutting) until full capacity is reinstated,” Van der Ross says.
- Areas where vegetation poses a major safety risk due to poor visibility for motorists and increased incidents of crime or vandalism can be escalated to Enquiries@capetown.gov.za with the relevant C3 notification supplied.
“The public should note that delays are to be anticipated in resolving mowing-related C3 notifications until such time as the City has full capacity.”
