Cape Town’s Failure to Maintain Public Parks Concerning

Statement by Wesley Neumann, GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor:

The City of Cape Town’s poor maintenance in marginalized communities has left a 6-year-old in hospital after a park outing. According to reports, Adyaan Benjamin suffered extensive leg and facial injuries when the chain of a swing snapped at the York Street Park in Manenberg. The child had to undergo surgery following the accident.

While the City claims the park was assessed on March 19, as GOOD, we question the thoroughness and sincerity of these assessments. Steel chains do not deteriorate overnight, and this incident highlights a deep-rooted failure to address maintenance needs adequately.

This is not an isolated case. In 2021, a similar tragedy struck when 10-year-old Kayden Marco from Delft tragically lost his life after a metal wheel at a park fell on him. These repeated incidents expose a systemic issue in ensuring the safety of our children in public spaces.

We demand immediate action from the City to address the maintenance of public parks and prevent further avoidable injuries or fatalities. There must be a consistent standard for all parks, regardless of location. The City must urgently identify parks and play areas that fall short of these standards, particularly in terms of safety, and commit to a comprehensive program of upgrades and improvements.

Every community deserves safe, well-maintained public spaces. The safety of our children must be a priority, not an afterthought.

GOOD Founder: The party was founded by Patricia de Lille, who is also its current leader.

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