Cllr Margaret Arnolds has welcomed a pledge by various business people in Eldorado Park to partner with the City in restoring vandalised public amenities in the area.
Cllr Arnolds, who heads up the portfolio for Community Development in the City, says the swimming pool in Eldorado Park’s Extension 8 has been the hardest hit by incidents of theft and vandalism and requires urgent repairs.
“Such brazen acts of criminality deny communities the chance of enjoying public amenities such as art galleries, libraries, museums, recreation centres, parks, swimming pools, theatres and sports facilities. It is the children, the youth who suffer the most,” she says.
There has also been drowning incidents in the area, with the latest casualty reported in the latter part of the year. The MMC says although these are devastating, it’s a huge relief to have entrepreneurs step in to help the City avert similar occurrences.
The MMC recently held an impromptu meeting with businesspeople in the suburb located south of the metro to receive news of their commitment to help resuscitate the Eldorado Park Extension 8 swimming pool and other facilities, which have been plagued by incidents of theft and vandalism.
“The City can’t do it alone, we need many more such residents to participate in our initiatives. Vandalism is the biggest threat to public facilities,” she explains.
Vandalism and theft are not only heinous but also hamper service delivery, disrupt the quality of life of all people and cost the City millions of rand in repairs and maintenance.
Cllr Arnolds emphasises that public amenities such as swimming pools, sports grounds, community halls, libraries and theatres are meant to benefit future generations.
“We have experienced a tremendous increase in the number of damaged City amenities, including an increase in insurance claims and endless repairs, which take us back and waste taxpayers’ money,” she notes.
The MMC urges residents of Joburg to help curb the vandalism of public property by reporting such crimes.
“Let us adopt public facilities and become ‘friends of facilities’ for the benefit of young people who need these for their development.”