K Mosunkutu launches six new parks

17 April 2009

A woman from Phiri, Soweto, says gone are the days when people in townships
envy parks in suburbs.

This was at the launch of six new parks by Gauteng MEC for Agriculture,
Conservation and Environment, Khabisi Mosunkutu. The parks, initiated by the
Siyathuthuka project, were built from prize money won in the Bontle ke Botho
(BKB) campaign. The Siyathuthuka project was formed by the residents of Phiri
and Senaoane extension in Soweto.

For five consecutive years, Siyathuthuka won prizes amounting to a total of
R280 000. They used part of this prize to buy garden tools and started building
public parks in open spaces. In some instances these open spaces were used as
illegal dumping areas.

Addressing community members at the launch MEC Mosunkutu hailed the
Siyathuthuka Project for creating recreational facilities that simultaneously
contributes to environmental management.

“This park is here to serve you. It is very important that you take care of
it. Ensure that no papers or plastics are littered around. Take out your garden
tools and maintain it, it can be your hose pipe, lawnmower, trimmer or a spade.
It will help improve the image of your area and how people think of your
area.”
Excited children could already be seen playing in the parks even as Mr
Mosunkutu was officially unveiling them. Joburg Municipality Councillor Vusi
Mchunu says that the parks are a safe playing area for kids.

“Many kids are killed by speeding cars in the streets. The municipality
cannot put up speed humps in every street to control the cars. The parks have
facilities for children to play without getting injured.”

Councillor Mchunu further revealed that they intend to form a youth
co-operative in the area. Members of the co-operative will be taught, among
other things, how to maintain parks.

The old and young of Phiri and Senoane vowed to take good care of the parks
and use them to restore pride in their residential areas. The parks host a
number of green trees planted by the Joburg Parks to support the project.
Flowers, roses and spacious benches make the parks welcoming and soothing
places where one can really chill out.

Phindi Ndlovu, Joburg Ward 15 Head of Environment, urged members of the
community not to vandalize equipment in the parks. “We plead with the community
to stop people from destroying or removing seats in the parks. It is the
responsibility of the community to guard these parks. We have a very good
relationship with the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) but the
problem is that they cannot always respond fast enough.”

These parks could indeed further hasten the demise of the apartheid concept
of Black urban residential areas being dumping grounds or undignified labour
compounds.

Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, Gauteng
Provincial Government
17 April 2009
Source: Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, Gauteng
Provincial Government (http://www.gdace.gpg.gov.za)