Day of Reconciliation: Exploring Joburg’s best parks  

17 December 2016

 

#ExploreJoburg:  Residents at The Orlando swimming pool.

 

While the whole of Joburg was on holiday mode, MMC for Community Development Councillor Nonhlanhla Sifumba gathered a group of officials from her department and spent her Day of Reconciliation interacting with residents at Region C and D parks. She was joined by Joburg Metro Police Dept officers as well City Parks’ Jenny Moodley as they went about educating residents and park visitors about the City’s by-laws.

 

The ‘Be safe in your open spaces’ campaign was aimed at promoting safety and security as well as compliance with by-laws during the festive season. One of the critical by-laws when it comes to parks is that alcohol is forbidden on the City’s over 2 000 parks. From Little Falls Resort Park in Roodepoort to the Orlando Swimming Pool in Soweto, it is clear that the City of Joburg has some of the best parks to offer its community members.

 

Parks such as the Dorothy Nyembe Park and Thokoza Park in Soweto were filled to capacity as residents gathered friends and family to enjoy the public holiday there. However, the City requires assistance from residents to maintain the beauty of the parks and to ensure that public spaces visitors are safe, secured and can continue to use the facilities. The main message from Cllr Sifumba was to remind community members that drinking alcohol at public spaces is illegal.

 

She also urged visitors of the parks to only braai at the designated areas to avoid having a safety hazard occur due to an open fire accident. Cllr Sifumba also encouraged visitors at the various parks to pick up after themselves and not litter and to protect their green spaces.

 

The campaign proved to be an interesting field trip that reminded all participants what a great City Johannesburg is and to showcase some of the beautiful parks that are at the community’s disposal.