Funza Park: from cherished playground to rubbish dump
Residents want the neglected playground in Harare, Khayelitsha, refurbished
Funza Park was once the pride and joy of the surrounding Harare community in Cape Town. It is now an eyesore. Photos: Vincent Lali
Funza Park in section 33 of Harare, once the pride and joy of the surrounding Khayelitsha community, has become an eyesore through vandalism and neglect. It is also a crime hot spot, according to police and residents.
The once clean and well-maintained community park is littered with garbage, rubble, discarded clothes and plastic. The main building has been stripped of its doors, windows, roof and electrical wiring. The playground equipment is rusted and vandalised. People use the shell of the building and its surrounds as a rubbish tip.
The abandoned building which residents say attracts criminal activities.
“We used to be proud of this park as it was kept in good condition. There were a guard and a caretaker looking after it, but not anymore,” said community leader Nowandisa Voko.
Children used to play safely in the park after school until their parents returned from work, she said.
She said children still want to play in the park but it is no longer safe. Muggers hide in the abandoned building, waiting for passersby.
“You must pretend not to notice anything while they rob people. Otherwise they will visit and attack you at your place,’’ said Xoliswa Mzoyi.
He said all the other surrounding parks have been built over by shack settlements.
Cwayitha Ngqela said she is struggling to find a tenant because her home is close to the abandoned building and its association with crime. Her last tenant was robbed of his wallet with bank cards and money and his cellphone. She wants the City to demolish the building or refurbish it.
Warrant officer Nosiphiwo Mtengwana, spokesperson for Harare police station, said they were aware of the problem building.
‘’We patrol in that area to stop the robberies, but we can’t stay there all the time because Khayelitsha is big,’’ she said.
Ward 98 Councillor Anele Gabuza (ANC) said the guard and the caretaker last worked there more than a decade ago.
Mayco member for community service and health Patricia van der Ross said vandalism and theft were the major challenge.
“The cost of continuous repair and replacement of damaged assets is unsustainable,’’ she said.
‘’The City calls on residents to put forward any ideas on how to effect a change in behaviour from within the community, or volunteer to get involved in expanding the reach of City and SAPS resources at recreation and parks facilities by forming groups such as neighbourhood watches,” she said.
Children still want to play at dilapidated Funza Park.
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Letters
Dear Editor
Regarding the state of Funza Park in Harare, Khayelitsha, Mayco for community services Patricia van der Ross asks for residents' ideas.
Of course it's fundamental that citizens take ownership of community facilities. I understand the City cannot indefinitely replace vandalised assets, but it is a partnership between city and community. If the city decides maintaining a facility is unsustainable, then the community should be told rather than let it slide into neglect.
Van Der Ross, ward councillor Anele Gabuza and the City are washing their hands of Funza Park when the park, as with all others in the metro, is city-owned. It's like this: neglected private property is the responsibility of the owner, not the surrounding community's. The owner may be legally compelled to remedy it.
But Van der Ross says neglected Funza Park and others like it are not their responsibility!
Four years ago I conducted an audit of parks in my area, and emailed a report on each to relevant parties in the City, including Mayco. There was no response except to indulge me. My report included a park the city had especially neglected. It wasn't bad, nowhere near Funza Park, but residents living opposite and nearby avoided it and used another one. Still do.
Now the City is using this park as a dumpsite for rubble from nearby road construction. (There's a better site for the dump – unused land of little significance a hundred metres away!) For a middle class area, it's similar to the Funza situation.
Van der Ross is disingenuous, asking for ideas about local facility management. I've done that under her tenure and her predecessor's and been ignored, humoured, patronised and shined on – politely of course. In a recent example of my increasingly exasperated emails about another park, in which Van Der Ross was included, a final emphatic reply said the matter was closed. The writer was sarcastic of my local knowledge and interest.
They ask for our cooperation when it suits them, and to deflect blame. But the fact is they don't want our input.
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