Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Pieter Lotriet and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Kabelo Moreeng. See attached pictures here and here.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has submitted a Notice of Motion to the Speaker and the Municipal Manager of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, calling for the urgent reinstatement of a properly funded annual tree-maintenance programme, with clear departmental accountability and timelines.
The extensive cutting of trees on municipal sidewalks across the Metro has raised understandable concern among residents. It is important to clarify that both the sidewalks and the trees situated on them remain the property and responsibility of the Metro.
In previous years, this maintenance function was undertaken by the Parks Department in accordance with a scheduled annual pruning programme under the supervision of designated officials. However, due to the loss of both capacity and budget within the Parks Department, this function has effectively fallen away.
As a result, Centlec has been compelled to assume responsibility for tree cutting where electrical infrastructure is at risk. The associated costs are therefore now being absorbed by Centlec’s budget, despite this not being its primary function.
The current cutting method, applied across the city, is driven by one overriding objective: protecting electrical infrastructure and preventing electrical hazards.
Trees are therefore being cut back aggressively to minimise the need for repeated short-term intervention and to reduce the risk of electric shock during the process.
Residents who wish to undertake further professional shaping or corrective pruning of trees adjacent to their properties may do so only after obtaining formal approval from the Parks Department, as each tree must be assessed on its own merits.
This situation highlights the consequences of the Metro’s failure to maintain its annual tree-pruning schedule. Had preventative maintenance been consistently carried out, the current severe and often distressing pruning measures would in all likelihood not have been necessary.
A sustainable, properly funded annual maintenance programme must be reinstated to protect both the city’s urban environment and its critical electrical infrastructure.