Rozario Brown, Mouille Point
A few weeks ago, I had the occasion to report a serious incident of vandalism at Maynardville Park to City of Cape Town community services and health executive director Zikiswa Mandlana.
The office of the city manager responded promptly, undertaking to investigate and revert.
While I did not receive formal feedback, I was both impressed and encouraged to witness the City’s team swiftly mobilised to repair the damage, restoring the facility to a safe and functional condition for public use.
During the course of this week, we identified further electrical and lighting challenges at the park. These concerns were brought to the attention of City Parks and Recreation Director Chantal Michaels.
I am delighted to report that within just two days, all outstanding issues were efficiently resolved by the dedicated team at Maynardville Park, under the capable leadership of Luyanda Mjleni.
Public parks and recreational spaces remain among the few sanctuaries where communities can gather, unwind, and enjoy quality local entertainment.
It is therefore a shared responsibility to ensure that these spaces are preserved and maintained to the highest standards.
The passion, commitment, and sense of duty demonstrated by Ms Mandlana, Ms Michaels, Ms Mjleni, and their respective teams have instilled in me a renewed confidence in the future of public service.
While it is often easy to criticise, it is equally important to acknowledge excellence where it is evident.
In many parts of our country, such concerns are regrettably overlooked; yet here and in this particular matter, we have seen how responsive and accountable leadership can yield meaningful results.
I take this opportunity to commend all those involved and to encourage public servants across all spheres to recommit themselves to serving our people with integrity, diligence, and compassion.
Let us continue to uphold and embody the principles of Batho Pele.
• The City of Cape Town's Recreation and Parks Department responds: We welcome the positive feedback.
The department is responsible for thousands of public amenities across the metropole and strives to address issues as soon as possible - a challenging task, given the sheer size of its portfolio.
City facilities are prone to vandalism, theft, and anti-social behaviour. We are encouraged by the positive feedback.