Saulsville children play among sewage and rubbish as public parks deteriorate

Children in the Saulsville area, located west of Pretoria, continue to play at public parks that are deteriorating rapidly. These parks have become unsafe due to sewage flowing through them, illegal dumping, and the absence of proper infrastructure. Brian Mabasa, a long-time resident of Saulsville, says that Forest Park, which was once a popular recreational area, has been neglected since 2016.

Mabasa claims the park has only been maintained by the community during holidays, and it is now more of a dumping site than a place for children to play. The park is used by over 100 children and adults each week, despite its dangerous conditions. Residents, such as Jerry Pule, blame the City of Tshwane for failing to protect the park from vandalism.

The City of Tshwane, however, maintains that the park was maintained in July 2026 as part of its scheduled maintenance. The City also states that litter collection, grass cutting, and painting of playground equipment are done regularly. Despite these claims, Health-e News found that sewage was still flowing through the park in August 2026, along with other indications of poor maintenance.

Research conducted by the University of Pretoria highlights the importance of parks for environmental health and physical activity, particularly in communities where children have limited safe spaces to play. However, other parks in Pretoria are also facing similar issues, with limited recreational facilities and lack of maintenance.