-
Media Statement
Tuesday, 24 March 2020
No embargo
Precautionary measures adopted by Joburg Parks and Zoo to contain Covid 19
The global call for hygiene, isolation and limiting social contact to deal with the impact of Coronavirus (Covid 19), has warranted Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo to comply with national regulations, to temporarily close all parks, nature reserves and the popular, Joburg Zoo.
“The unprecedented move is aimed at protecting the wellbeing of visitors, employees and the animals in our care,” stated the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, Councillor Margaret Arnolds.
The stringent measures have taken effect since Thursday, 19 March and the call is for residents to comply even in facilities where notices are yet to be erected. All customer requests are to be directed to Joburg Connect on 011 375-5555 or to trees@jhbcityparks.com.
In this regard all events at the Zoo, in parks and nature reserves have been cancelled. Amenities within these facilities such as restaurants and shops have been closed, as well.
MMC Arnolds advised residents that Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo will also curtail all non-critical services with effect from 26 March as part of the nationwide 21-day lockdown, to tackle the spread of Covid 19.”
Zoo operations considered critical
The Joburg Zoo requires a 24/7 presence. The Head of the Zoo remains based within the facility. Dedicated safety, health, environment and quality (SHEQ) officers continue to monitor high risk, activities. All operational employees have been retained as part of the critical service offering of the Zoo. Employees have been adhering to stringent sanitising requirements, particularly around personal protection; preparation of meals for animals and in the veterinary hospital. Security officers have been posted at all entrance points and within the facility. The officers are also sensitising disappointed visitors that the Zoo is closed for their safety and that the animals in our care will continue to receive the highest of care by their committed caregivers who form part of the critical staff complement, of the Zoo.
Parks and Nature Reserves remain closed
Regular visitors have voiced their understandable concern regarding the closure of parks and nature reserves. This came about in the light that the spread of the virus is accelerated in public gatherings. “The global call for residents to stay at home and to refrain from entering public open spaces must be taken seriously”, urged Arnolds. Notices advising park users that facilities are closed, are being placed in parks and nature reserves and where possible play and outdoor fitness equipment will be cordoned off with danger tape. Residents who are illegally accessing facilities that are not fenced, are reminded that they are transgressing regulations promulgated as part of the Disaster Management Action and that they could be fined.
Arnolds further appealed to residents to refrain from flouting the strict measures of the 21-day lockdown and posting messages of illegal visits to public open spaces. “Trangressions will not be tolerated. You will be held accountable as it is compounding the confusion that parks are open to the public,” reinforced Arnolds.
MMC Arnolds, further underlined that these extraordinary measures, in these fast changing and difficult days, requires mass cooperation by all residents, visitors and employees alike, to ensure that the loss of life is contained.
Residents requiring more information on Covid 19 are urged to call the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) on 0800 029 999 or to talk to the medical staff on 0800 111 131.
ENDS
Issued by the Member of Community Development in the City of Joburg
Councillor Margaret Arnolds
FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Jenny Moodley
Spokesperson: Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo
Tel: 082 8030 748 or on 082 906 1515
Email: jmoodley@jhbcityparks.com
Website: www.jhbcityparks.com
Twitter: JoburgParksZoo
Facebook: JoburgParks
-
Media Advisory
Wednesday, 04 March 2020
Release: Immediate
Joburg Zoo’s 116th birthday gift to you
Come celebrate our 116th birthday at the Johannesburg Zoo. This Sunday, 8 March 2020, we’re offering you a crazy discounted entry fee of only R30 for the ever popular Zoo Trot. Registration is at 07h00 sharp with the 5km or 10km walk or run at 07h30. No zoo vouchers will be accepted. Parking is available at the parkade at R15 per vehicle.
The first 500 trotters will receive a birthday cupcake so best you get there early.
The Zoo Trot is ideal for those who seek ample space, a dose of clean, crisp air, tranquility and camaraderie. Bring along your picnic blankie and basket and relax after the race.
Look out for more birthday specials for the month of March, visit our social media platforms:
FB : The Johannesburg Zoo / Joburg Parks
Twitter: @joburgparkszoo
Instagram: @joburgparkszoo
Issued on behalf of
Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo
Media enquiries can be directed to:
Noeleen Mattera: Stakeholder & Media Relations, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo
T: 011 712-6722 / 07999 46345
E: nmattera@jhbcityparks.com
W: www.jhbcityparks.com
-
City of Joburg: Media Advisory
Councillor Margaret Arnolds, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development in the City of Johannesburg
Monday, 24 February 2020
Release: Immediate
City Parks and Zoo to roll out its peak season, mega-blitz operation in Vrededorp
Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo is set to cut and clean streets and parks in Vrededorp on Wednesday, 26 February 2020 and is inviting volunteers to come out with their gloves and rakes to help reclaim the integrity of this historical area.
The blitz operation comes on the heels of transforming three neglected spaces into award-winning parks in Vrededorp, which won six prestigious awards for innovative design and quality workmanship at the South African Landscapers Institute (SALI) in 2019.
The popular Katjiepeiring, Leeuwbekkie and Cosmo Circle parks boast multifunctional playground equipment, landscaped lawns, rubberized surfaces and creatively themed park furniture.
In an effort to continue its greening mandate, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, Councillor Margaret Arnolds will once again lead the 5th JCPZ clean-up operation, after 4 successful blitzes at the Joburg Zoo, Alexandra, Eldorado Park, and in Midrand, since early January.
In partnership with sister entities, JCPZ will be joined by the Joburg Roads Agency, Pikitup and Social Development in tackling long grass on sidewalks, dense shrubs, tree pruning, litter picking, repairing potholes, repainting road markings, skoffeling and removing unsightly illegal dumping in the area. As part of its integrated operational plan JCPZ has included an environmental education programme targeting residents and learners, and a visible bylaw enforcement plan led by the Park Rangers together with JMPD.
Eight teams of over 150 workers will be placed at various spots throughout the area to address service delivery shortfalls.
Residents are urged to take ownership and to clean and beauty the verges in front of their homes. They may also join the brush-cutting teams by raking and bagging the cut grass during the operation. Support teams will be on hand as well.
“Residents deserve higher standards of service delivery, however we all need to take collective responsibility for public spaces,” said Councillor Margaret Arnolds, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development in the City of Johannesburg.
Councillor Arnolds thanked residents who continue to take pride and ownership of their parks and their front lawns. This is despite the pockets of areas where vandalism and illegal dumping is rife.
To join any of the blitz operations in your area, send an email with your company or individual details to trees@jhbcityparks.com.
ENDS
Issued on behalf of
Councillor Margaret Arnolds, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, City of Johannesburg.
Media enquiries can be directed to:
Noeleen Mattera: Stakeholder & Media Relations, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo
T: 011 712-6722 / 07999 46345
E: nmattera@jhbcityparks.com
W: www.jhbcityparks.com
-
City of Joburg: Media Advisory
Councillor Margaret Arnolds, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development in the City of Johannesburg
Wednesday, 12 February 2020
Release: Immediate
City Parks and Zoo hits the ground running with its accelerated tree planting programme to grow Joburg’s Urban Forest
On the heels of the third successful mega blitz clean-up in Eldorado Park last week, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) is hitting the ground running in preparation for another accelerated campaign, to plant 1000 indigenous trees in the newly developed residential areas of Country View and in Noordwyk in Midrand.
The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, Councillor Margaret Arnolds will start the day bright and early on Saturday, 15 February 2020 together with 185 JCPZ staff and about 80 community members for the countdown to the mega-tree planting initiative.
Working teams will be briefed at 08h30 before being deployed to the seven designated quadrants to plant trees along Lever Road.
Growing the city’s ageing tree canopy to address trees that are being lost due to urbanization; inclement weather; attacks by the Polyphagus Shothole Borer (PSHB) and due to natural attrition is critical for cities to build a healthy environment.
“Many of Joburg’s ageing trees are reaching their full life expectancy and have become more vulnerable to opportunistic diseases. This amplifies the critical need to plant trees, today for a healthy future,” stated the MMC for Community Development, Councillor Margaret Arnolds.
Residents are urged where possible to plant trees as well, take care and protect existing trees and to only remove dead trees. Enquiries with regard to tree planting and the maintenance of trees can be directed to trees@jhbcityparks.com
ENDS
Issued on behalf of
Councillor Margaret Arnolds, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, City of Johannesburg.
Media enquiries can be directed to:
Noeleen Mattera: Stakeholder & Media Relations, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo
T: 011 712-6722 / 07999 46345
E: nmattera@jhbcityparks.com
W: www.jhbcityparks.com
-
In heeding the Executive Mayor’s campaign to accelerate service delivery in Joburg, the mega blitz operations seek address seasonal backlogs caused by the erratic weather patterns and the knock-on effect weather has on delivering timely services to our residents. City Parks and Zoo will continue its horticultural maintenance schedules operations across the city, to reclaim spaces prone to neglect
The mega blitz will be happening across the regions on the following dates:
|
Programme
|
Date
|
Region
|
Planned Activities
|
|
Alexandra
|
23 Jan
|
Region E
|
Grass cutting & Tree Maintenance
|
|
Eldorado Park
|
6 Feb
|
Region G
|
Grass cutting & Tree Maintenance
|
|
Country View Noordwyk
|
15 Feb
|
Region A
|
Tree planting & Re-greening project
|
|
Vredendorp
|
26 Feb
|
Region F
|
Grass cutting & Tree Maintenance
|
|
Fairlands
|
5 Mar
|
Region B
|
Grass cutting & Tree Maintenance
|
|
Chiawelo Koppie
|
26 Mar
|
Region D
|
Grass cutting & Tree Maintenance
|
|
Brixton Cemetery
|
5 Apr
|
Region F
|
Grass cutting & Tree Maintenance
|
|
Tsepisong
|
26 Apr
|
Region C
|
Grass cutting & Tree Maintenance
|
-
City of Johannesburg Press Statement by Cllr Margaret Arnolds
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development in the City of Joburg
Media Statement
Thursday, 6 February 2020
For Immediate Release
City Parks and Zoo partners with sister-entities to tackle service backlogs in Eldorado Park
The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, Councillor Margaret Arnolds led a team of approximately 150 City Parks and Zoo staff, 68 workers from the Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) and a number of staff from the various municipal entities in Eldorado Park on Thursday, 6 February 2020, for a mega blitz clean-up.
The much-needed operation in Eldorado Park and surrounding Fountain Park and open spaces on Diamond Street, Silver Street, Concorde and the popular stadium in Ext 9, saw teams working tirelessly in their designated sections, tackling long grass on sidewalks, dense shrubs, tree pruning, litter picking, fixing potholes and removing unsightly illegal dumping in the area.
Over 1 278 and 1 470 primary and high school learners respectively, were engaged prior to the event as part of City Parks integrated plan to educate learners as well on the impacts of their actions in protecting public spaces. Specialists from JCPZ environmental and education department, visited each household around Fountain Park, providing information and education on the importance of open spaces and taking care and ownership of their parks and the environment.
In heeding the Executive Mayor’s campaign to accelerate service delivery in Joburg, the mega blitz operations seek address seasonal backlogs caused by the erratic weather patterns and the knock-on effect weather has on delivering timely services to our residents. City Parks and Zoo will continue its horticultural maintenance schedules operations across the city, to reclaim spaces prone to neglect.
“As the city’s entity responsible for over 2 173 public parks, cemeteries, street trees, open spaces, nature reserves and the Joburg Zoo, City Parks and Zoo is continuing these mega blitz operations across all 7 regions to deal with issues of long grass, park maintenance and general horticultural services, which have gone a long way in addressing the concerns of residents,” stated Councillor Margaret Arnolds, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development in the city of Johannesburg.
“Grime attracts crime,” MMC Arnolds added. “We need to work as a collective to return these spaces to our children to play safe, away from drug abuse and neglect”, she emphasised.
Service shortfalls, including overgrown parks, fallen trees and hanging branches, can be reported to trees@jhbcityparks.com or register enquiries on the Joburg Connect Call Centre on 011 375 5555.
ENDS
Issued on behalf of Councillor Margaret Arnolds, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, City of Johannesburg.
Media enquiries can be directed to: Noeleen Mattera: Stakeholder & Media Relations, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo
T: 011 712-6722 / 07999 46345
E: nmattera@jhbcityparks.com
W: www.jhbcityparks.com
