FOND childhood memories of running around the playground, playing “tag” with friends and pushing each other on the swings used to come to mind when this young man looked at the “playground” in his street.
Now, all Chadley McCabe sees is an open field where the playground used to be, that is also being used as an illegal dumping site with no more equipment in sight.
This 19-year-old decided that it was time to speak up for his community, especially the residents of Bantom Crescent in Bloemendal.
According to McCabe, residents in this part of Ward 34, have been neglected when it comes to this playground and general service delivery.
“The playground has been neglected for years because now there is just nothing. Just think of the good it could do, especially when it comes to keeping the kids out of trouble and giving them a place to enjoy themselves,” McCabe said.
“Service delivery is very poor in our area. Street lights are not working, drains are leaking and the river between Bethelsdorp and Sanctor is overflowing with sewage.
“The community is angry at being neglected and people even call this side an island, because nothing ever happens here,” he explained.
Youth mentor in the area, Elton Joshua, said that he remembered a time when the playground was fully functional, with a see-saw, jungle gym, slide and a turning wheel.
“The playground was utilised by many of our children. Over the years, these steel structures started to deteriorate, due to a lack of maintenance and were eventually removed by the municipality for safety reasons. From another point of view, one can say that they were removed due to negligence and no proper enclosures.
“After these structures disappeared, the illegal dumping started and it grew to a greater problem by the day,” Joshua explained.
According to Joshua, about two years ago, a resident, Neil Marongo, decided to clean up the open field they once referred to as “the parky” and made contact with Ward Councillor, Johnny Arends.
“We were astonished to see a brand new playground being erected on the corner of Burgens Street and Buys Street, adjacent to our ward.
“We were also sad to see that our children did not have a park to play in, but we had to live with it,” he said. “Many residents felt that the parky should have been resurrected and also enclosed. On the very same spot where the parky is situated, there is a municipal electrical substation.
“This substation, which was vandalised not so long ago, is also at risk, as it is not enclosed.
“By adding the enclosure, we can curb vandalism, cable theft or even the risk of death.”
MMC for public health, Lance Grootboom, said that he still needed to investigate but, “if it’s a playground that belongs to the municipality, then they are supposed to maintain it”.
“In the past, if equipment was stolen or became a danger to children playing there, it was removed. But I cannot tell you if this was the case with the one in Bantom Crescent.
“There is no development (planned for) Bantom Crescent in this financial year. If it was old equipment, with protruding sharp objects and rust that could endanger the community, the municipality would then remove them to avoid such incidents,” Grootboom said.
He added that the municipality developed new playgrounds based on the budget.
“The budget that I’m working with is one that was put into place by the previous coalition and only 10 new playgrounds across the metro are being developed in this financial year. Bantom Crescent is not among them.”
Grootboom said he would investigate the situation and ensure that general maintenance, such as grass cutting and removal of waste, took place, if the park belonged to the municipality.
“I’ll also investigate when last the playground was developed and how many other playgrounds in the area were developed.
“If none of them were developed in the last five years, I’ll take a look at the municipality’s priority list, to see if these playgrounds can be developed either in the next financial year or within the next three financial years,” he said.
The ward councillor could not be reached for comment after numerous attempts.
