AfriForum neighbourhood team travels great distance to maintain Oudtshoorn parks
AfriForum’s Knysna neighbourhood team spent several days working in Oudtshoorn last week to maintain several of its public parks. Although the neighbourhood team is based in the coastal town of Knysna, it supports communities throughout the Garden Route wherever assistance is needed.
The team began its work at the park in Draai Street, where grass and weeds were cut with brush cutters and shrubs were neatly trimmed. The team then moved to the park in Middel Street, where they cut the grass and removed new shoots from trees to make the park more accessible to visitors.
At the park in Keyter Street, the team pruned tree branches that were obstructing the floodlights. This work will help improve lighting in the park at night, thereby creating a safer environment for residents. The three days of work concluded with maintenance at the park in Taute Street, where the team also tackled overgrown grass and bushes.
Over the course of the project, the team cut approximately 6,500 square metres of grass and pruned numerous tree branches to keep these public spaces neat and usable.
“Public spaces should be safe and well-maintained places where families and children can gather with peace of mind. When the authorities fail to carry out basic maintenance, AfriForum and our volunteers step in to make a difference ourselves. We will not stand by and watch communities deteriorate. We take responsibility and help build an environment that residents can be proud of,” says Marthinus Erasmus, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Southern Cape.
AfriForum’s Oudtshoorn branch is also planning to establish its own neighbourhood team to serve the community sustainably. Such a team would enable the branch to carry out regular maintenance of public spaces and respond quickly to the community’s needs. Join AfriForum’s Oudtshoorn branch today and help make this neighbourhood team a reality. Email marthinus.erasmus@afriforum.co.za or contact Erasmus on 081 216 9602.
