Neglected wetland an eyesore

The wetland which surrounds the Constantia Office Park is an eyesore for the community as the City Council is unable to maintain it, said Ward 89 councillor Ingrid Reinten.

“The office park was constructed in the early ’90s with the aim of turning it into a business premises that could rival certain office parks in Sandton and they have managed to do that, but there is one problem with this office park – it is surrounded by a wetland that is not maintained by the City.”

According to Reinten, the land is owned by the Council that chooses to leave the wetland in its current un-maintained state because it’s a nature conservation area.

“If you visit the office park then you will immediately see the difference between the maintained and un-maintained parts of the wetland. The problem that concerns me is that a small informal settlement popped up next to the business park because there is a fresh supply of water that comes from the Klein Jukskei River. There are no structures but vagrants seek shelter underneath the trees.”

She added that the vagrants collect and trade in rubbish and it is evident as one can see all of the empty rubbish bags surrounding the little settlement. “These vagrants are part of the trolley brigade that make their living off rubbish and it is not a problem as they are creating jobs for themselves, but they are leaving the wetland in a mess.” She said that it’s surrounded by 14th Avenue on the one side and Hendrik Potgieter Road on the other side.

“These are high-traffic areas and not only is the wetland something unpleasant to look at, but it is also a thoroughfare for criminals who use it as a short-cut or they hide in it as well.”

Reinten concluded,“What I suggest the City do is to maintain the wetland so that residents in the area can make use of it to walk their animals in or to go for family picnics on weekends. It’s a beautiful asset that the City should take pride in and maintain.” concluded Reinten.