Rustenburg man spends over R200,000 turning neglected field into park, but legal questions loom

A Rustenburg resident, Otukile Motshwaedi (68), has spent more than R200,000 of his own money transforming an unkept field near his home into a well-maintained park.

While the initiative has been praised in some quarters, concerns have been raised about its legality, as the land is owned by the Rustenburg Local Municipality and Motshwaedi does not have official permission to develop it.

When Motshwaedi bought his home on a street corner in Glenhoutpark in 2013, he was unhappy with the view across the road.

“It was a thicket bush,” he said. “I am a person who likes neatness, and I love nature, fauna, and flora. I said to myself that I had to think about what could be done in this area to improve the image of my house.”

Motshwaedi said the grass was overgrown, residents dumped rubbish in the field, and a pungent smell emanated from the area due to homeless people relieving themselves there.

“What was bad in my eyes was that when any crime took place in the area, people would hide there and escape through the bush,” he said.

Motshwaedi added that he had also been a victim of a house break-in, with the perpetrators disappearing into the bush that once stood opposite his home.

That bush no longer exists.

In its place is manicured green grass, neatly spaced trees, and a large umbrella structure with a thatched roof.

Motshwaedi has continued planting trees and, more controversially, has installed concrete plinths around the outer perimeter of the park.

An engineer by profession, Motshwaedi has invested significant time, resources, and money into the project.

This has included hiring a tractor to level the ground, removing waste, and maintaining the area. He said one grass-cutting session costs him R4,000.

Part of his motivation, Motshwaedi said, stems from a lack of confidence in the municipality’s ability to maintain the space.

“I pay rates like any other resident. I don’t receive any subsidy because I’m doing this for the benefit of the municipality and the residents,” he said.

“I can count two or three parks in our municipality that have become thick bush like this one was, and it will cost much more to rehabilitate them. That is an indirect way of saying I have lost faith in the municipality to do what I am doing now.”

Motshwaedi’s long-term plans for the park are not purely altruistic, as he hopes to generate income from it in the future.

He told EWN he submitted a proposal to the municipality to convert the space into a farmers’ market-style venue, with braai facilities, a children’s playground, and shopping stalls.

“I sent my plans to the municipality in 2023, but I have not heard anything from them,” he said.

EWN has sent queries to the Rustenburg Local Municipality and will update this story once a response is received.

In the meantime, Ward 16 councillor Johan Cronje said he was concerned about the lack of official authorisation for the park.

“Opinions regarding the park are divided. I commend the initiative to improve and beautify a public green space, particularly in light of the municipality’s previous calls for community involvement in the upkeep of such areas,” he said.

“However, residents have raised concerns that the infrastructure being erected could result in the area becoming an informal braai or party space, similar to what occurred at Bodenstein Park in the past.”

Cronje said the matter has been raised in several council meetings.

He added that the municipality’s Town Planning Department had neither received nor approved any application for the concrete plinths installed to cordon off the area.

Cronje said this was concerning, as the structures are permanent and could set a problematic precedent regarding the occupation of vacant municipal land.

“While the intention may be commendable, the absence of approval renders the alterations non-compliant with municipal bylaws. All changes to public open spaces must be carried out within the confines of the law and the bylaws of the municipality,” he said.