Bothasig residents raise concerns over neglect of De Grendel Park

Residents living near De Grendel Park in Bothasig have raised concerns about what they describe as the City’s failure to consistently maintain the public space.

They say the neglect has resulted in illegal dumping, hygiene problems, and growing safety concerns.

A resident, who asked to remain anonymous, fearing victimisation, said the park directly behind her family’s home has deteriorated due to a lack of regular maintenance and oversight.

“My backyard is a mess again, even though we cleaned it up just three weeks ago. The rubbish keeps coming from the park,” she said.

According to the resident, the park has become a dumping site, with household refuse accumulating against the boundary wall shared with nearby homes.

She said that unmanaged homelessness has also become increasingly visible, with people regularly sleeping along the walls behind residential properties.

“This has resulted in ongoing dumping, hygiene concerns, and safety issues for residents. Rubbish from the park is continuously blown into our private property,” she said.

Approximately three weeks ago, the resident and her father cleaned both their backyard and the section of the park closest to their property themselves, removing multiple bags of rubbish by hand.

“My father and I decided to clean the park because it lies directly behind our house. The constant garbage spilling into our backyard, together with people sleeping near our walls and dumping waste there, made the situation unbearable,” she said.

“The clean-up involved two hours of clearing that section of the park and an additional hour to remove garbage from our backyard.”

She said the clean-up was done out of necessity, not choice, adding that residents should not be left to deal with the consequences of neglected public spaces.

The resident clarified that no request had been logged for the grass to be cut and that enquiries regarding the decision to do so should be directed to Bothasig Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairperson and community activist Mario Borchards. 

While the grass was cut last week, she said no cleaning took place.

“Cutting grass without removing waste is a superficial response and fails to address the ongoing problems,” she said.

Mr Borchards said community involvement plays an important role in keeping areas clean and safe.

“When residents take pride in their surroundings, it discourages illegal dumping, loitering, and vagrancy,” he said.

He added that responsible waste management, such as placing refuse bins out only on collection days, helps reduce scavenging and prolonged loitering.

He urged residents to report illegal dumping or by-law infringements by contacting Law Enforcement on 021 480 7700.

Mr Borchards said an active community presence, including regular park use and clean-up initiatives, creates safer, cared-for spaces, adding that the Bothasig CPF has started community programmes in the park, including a Couch-to-5km beginners’ training initiative, and plans to organise regular clean-ups under the theme ‘Use or Lose the Parks’.

Ward 5 councillor Miquette Temlett said she was not aware of allegations that City staff had made “more of a mess than cleaning the area”.

She said concerns about an increase in rough sleepers had been logged by residents and escalated to the Displaced Persons Unit (DPU), which conducted interviews and assured her that regular interventions would take place.

“These are serious allegations. If City staff were in the wrong, it needs to be rectified. Residents should log the issue and send it to me so that I can escalate it immediately,” said Ms Temlett.

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