MMC David Tembe has vowed to expedite the resolution of safety and security issues raised by concerned residents of Dobsonville in a bid to improve service delivery at a once trendy community park in the Soweto suburb.
The MMC of Public Safety recently met various community stakeholders in the area, including the National Environment Awareness Council (NEAC), the management of the Dorothy Nyembe Park, as well as the Phaphama Community and Business Development Forum, a representative body of the community around Dobsonville, Mofolo North, and Meadowlands.
MMC Tembe was accompanied by officials from the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, and a representative from the office of the Regional Director for Region D.
Community representatives told Cllr Tembe they don’t feel safe anymore around the formerly picturesque 26-hectare Dorothy Nyembe Park. Once a pristine green lung in the heart of the vibrant Soweto suburb, – kitted with a plethora of social amenities like swings and a playground, a state-of-the-art lighting system, a perimeter fence, and manicured lawns, – the park named after South Africa’s longest-serving female political prisoner has fallen into ruin, having been neglected and hijacked by vagrants.
Residents told Cllr Tembe that the sparkling dam in the park that was fed by a natural wetland that runs through it – home to a variety of species of birdlife – has turned into a crime hotspot, with overgrown grass, lack of ablution facilities, little to no police visibility, inadequate lighting at night, and no regular maintenance. Complaints about public indecency were also raised.
Vusi Kunene, a resident, said he’s concerned about the high number of deaths that have occurred in the park due to a lack of security.
“The park is deserted, which makes it a spot for people to be attacked and killed unnoticed. We would like the City to get actively involved and spruce up the park,” Kunene told the meeting.
Cllr Tembe has committed to discussing the matter with his Community Development counterpart, MMC Ronald Harris, to resolve the concerns raised by the community.
“I have noted the concerns of the community and I promise that I will be back here in two weeks.”
Residents also said traffic gets chaotic around the park on weekends because of funeral processions. MMC Tembe told the community he’ll deploy JMPD officers at the intersection of the park’s streets to ease traffic jams on weekends.
Another resident, Noluthando Shukuma, told the municipal delegation she’s grateful community concerns are receiving the City’s attention.
“I’m hoping for unity in the community so that we tackle this problem of crime and grime and find lasting solutions. I would love for the MMC to engage with the community more often, so we can improve opportunities in Dobsonville,” said Shukuma.
Cllr Tembe said he was encouraged by the community’s initiative-taking stance in petitioning the City council to resolve social ills in the area.
“It is of paramount importance that we partner with the community in eradicating all issues related to public safety in the park. We need each other,” Cllr Tembe said.
Written by Bongiwe Radebe
23/02/2022