COLVILLE residents have refused to give up even though it feels like they are “fighting a losing battle”. The safety of the neighbourhood’s children is what drives them to keep fixing the devil’s fork fence around the Swedish Park Community Hall - even if it just gets broken down again in a few days time.
“I can’t just stand by and see the broken fence posing a danger to our children. Just one misstep or a little one tripping on a stone I can’t imagine the consequences. The children’s safety comes first,” said one resident, Henry Visagie.
He says he has been living in the area for the past 23 years. The community hall has been directly opposite his house for the past 15 years. “It was beautiful when they opened it.”
Residents who have been helping Visagie fix the fence say that the park was built specifically for the children - to keep them off the streets.
“Now a bunch of ‘skollies’ just come and break down what is supposed to be something good.”
Visagie and his fellow residents say that they wish they could re-erect all the devil’s fork fencing around the hall.
“At this point every time these skollies break the fence, we try and fix it with what is left. I just wish we had the resources to not just keep fixing the fence opposite my house, but the entire perimeter.”
Visagie added that recently he had to shout at some people who were trying to gain entry to the park area at night. “This place is for the children - not adults who want to come and smoke drugs and burn tyres to warm themselves.”
Residents say they are tired of fighting a losing battle.
“When we go to the police about this they tell us we don’t own the land so we can’t open a case. We go to the Sol Plaatje Municipality security and they tell us to mind our own business. So where do we turn? Maybe a bit more police visibility will help.”
However, the residents said that they will not give up the battle to keep their children safe.
Besides trying to maintain the fence, residents in the area also do their utmost to keep the park itself clean. “That doesn’t even last a few days,” one of the residents said.
Other residents keep a watchful eye on the children so they don’t hurt themselves on the slide in the park area. “It’s broken, that is why we have to keep going to check to see that they don’t hurt themselves.”
Visagie says he feels he has to keep trying. “It is right opposite my house. I also want to keep the area clean. I just wish someone could help us replace the entire fence - for our children to be safe.
Sol Plaatje municipal spokesperson Sello Matsie called on the community to contact their ward councillor to marshal assistance.
“We urge them to contact the councillor so that he can marshal the assistance of the Sol Plaatje Municipality. We are more than willing to help them,” Matsie said.
- Michelle Cahill