Some years ago a member of the community approached us to say that many of the people in Lesideng had no place to “chill out”. Since then, a few things have happened. Freddy and Nico, two volunteers at the Waterberg Tourism Kiosk, made a wonderful video of the open area along the Melkrivier road. Please take some time to watch it through this link:
With the new Waterberg Mountain Bike initiative about to take off it would be wonderful if this area could be used to encourage young people to take up cycling. It would turn wasted ground into something productive and attractive.
Around about the same time we were approached by a member of the community telling us that many of the robberies in the Vaalwater residential area were being staged from the derelict park just above the Vaalwater Laer Skool. A member of our community, Nick Callichy, was approached and very kindly cleared all the small shrubs as a service to the community.
Unfortunately, the municipality did not follow through with its promise to grade it and turn it into a park. Today, it is overgrown once again.
This leads us to our next story which does have a happy ending. Two brothers, Leavy and Joe Tau, got tired of people dumping rubbish on their pavement over the road from where they lived. After many complaints to the municipality with nothing being done, they decided to fence the area off with their own money, planted grass, installed play equipment, and set up two caravans selling food. They charge a nominal amount to the children you play there which generates income and keeps the children off the streets. You can follow their story by going to this link
Today they have built a stage for events and installed wi-fi for the many people that visit the park. It is a safe place and always kept very neat and clean. They tell us that the next thing they want to do is to build a swimming pool for the people of Lesideng!
This very clearly shows what can and should be done by the private sector. It is apparent that the municipality, whose responsibility it is, has neither the will, the capacity nor the funds. It is time for the community to come together to improve our environment and invest in our youth.