South Africa: Saulsville Children Play Among Sewage and Rubbish As Public Parks Deteriorate
[Health-e] Children in Saulsville, west of Pretoria continue to use public parks where residents say sewage, illegal dumping and deteriorating infrastructure have made the spaces unsafe.
Children in the Saulsville area, located west of Pretoria, are forced to play in public parks plagued by sewage, illegal dumping, and deteriorating infrastructure. Forest Park, situated on Chauke Street, is one such park that has become unsafe for children. Brian Mabasa, a long-time resident of Saulsville, states that the park was last well-maintained over a decade ago and has since deteriorated.
The park is now used as a dumping site, with discarded medication, syringes, and other hazardous waste littering its grounds. Despite the hazardous conditions, around 100 children and adults utilize the park weekly, with no alternative recreational spaces available in the area. Jerry Pule, another Saulsville resident, blames the City of Tshwane for the park's current state, alleging that the city has ignored the park's needs for years.
The City of Tshwane denies the claims, stating that the park underwent maintenance in July 2026, including litter collection, grass cutting, waste removal, and painting of playground equipment. However, visiting the park in August 2026, Health-e News found sewage still flowing through the park and visible signs of deterioration.
The University of Pretoria's research emphasizes the importance of parks and green spaces for children's environmental health and physical activity, particularly in communities with limited safe play areas.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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