Originally published on 06 August 2024
What was the problem?
People living in Auckland Park were worried about big trees at the corner of Fawley Avenue and Lothbury Road. These trees leaned on each other and on a fence, making them very dangerous. A big old tree at the corner of Molesey Avenue and Cookham Road had been dangerous for more than a year because its branches would fall on homes and buildings. In Melville, a big tree trunk on Main Road near 6th Avenue worried people because it was close to a homeless camp, and fires were made at its base.
How did they solve it?
Residents continuously reported issues with dangerous trees to the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ), who then began to actively fix these problems. They started cutting branches at Fawley Avenue and Lothbury Road and planned to finish by the end of July. They removed the dangerous tree at Molesey Avenue and Cookham Road, so it was no longer a problem. In Melville, they were working to remove the tree trunk and planned to use a special truck to do it. JCPZ worked hard to fix these issues quickly.
Jenny Moodley, JCPZ's spokesperson, said it was important for people to keep reporting tree problems. She said there might be delays during busy times, but keeping people in Johannesburg safe was a priority for the city.
Acknowledgements:
Original article written by: Waydon Jacobs
Photograph supplied by: Northcliff Melville Times
Get your community involved
Is there a community-driven group or caring business in your area? A dedicated group of committed people can effectively solve local problems.
Think about starting or joining community groups like a street WhatsApp group, residents' association, or community policing forum (CPF) to get help and to stay informed and involved in local issues.
How to set up a community group
How to start a residents' association
How to set up a community policing forum
How to set up a neighbourhood watch
How to organise community action
How to use media to create pressure for change
Know your rights – how local government works
It’s important to understand how your local government works so that you can work with them to support what they are doing while your community continues to keep them accountable and deliver services on time. Remember you have a constitutional right to many of the services provided by local government, as well as to accountability and transparency, wherever you live and regardless of how much you earn. It is also where money collected from taxes and rates goes.
Tshwane
Warning: text comes here
