Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Eleanor Quinta and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Ana Motaung.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Maluti-a-Phofung (MAP) has launched a petition calling for urgent action to stop the further destruction and deterioration of President Brand Park in Harrismith.
Once an important green belt and recreational space for the community, President Brand Park is increasingly being damaged by illegal tree felling, vandalism, neglected infrastructure and unregulated business activities.
Some of the park’s trees are more than a century old and form an important part of the character and environmental value of the park. Their continued destruction cannot be allowed to continue.
The DA is also concerned about the vandalised and neglected infrastructure in the park, which creates security risks for visitors as well as environmental and safety hazards for the broader community.
Recent discussions in council regarding a proposal for the municipality to partner with a private enterprise to uplift the park have further highlighted the need to ensure that any future development protects, rather than destroys, the park’s character and value.
The DA supports public-private partnerships. We do call upon the municipality to regulate and monitor the activities of businesses to ensure that the park is protected.
The DA believes President Brand Park must remain an important public green space and recreational area for the community. Commercial activities must not be allowed to destroy the environmental value of the park or undermine its purpose as a public space.
The petition calls on the municipality to:
- Stop illegal tree felling and protect President Brand Park’s century-old trees from further destruction, environmental damage and safety hazards.
- Address vandalism and security risks by protecting visitors and restoring neglected and vandalised infrastructure.
- Protect the green belt and preserve President Brand Park as an important green space and recreational area for the community.
- Stop unregulated businesses and ensure that commercial activities do not destroy the park’s environmental value or character.
The DA believes the municipality has a responsibility to properly protect and maintain its public spaces. President Brand Park belongs to the community, and its environmental, recreational and public value must be preserved for current and future generations.
The petition provides residents with an opportunity to make their position clear: the further destruction of President Brand Park must stop.
The DA calls on residents of Harrismith and the surrounding community to sign the petition and stand together to protect President Brand Park from further destruction.
DA-led government will clean up our town by partnering with the private sector to restore neglected public spaces.