Whose land is it anyway?

This emerged after a dispute between Inanda residents and co-founder of Bakos Brothers, Dennis Bakos over trees that had been trimmed and chopped down.

Resident Gerald Blumenfeld said the trees were on the pavement between Protea Road and The Inandas complex, and were next to the Bakos Brothers property.

Blumenfeld believes that tree fellers commenced cutting down the large trees to “improve visibility” of the shops in the vacinity.

He approached Bakos, who he claimed was the person who paid for the removal of the trees. According to Blumenfeld, Bakos said the trees were dead, however Blumenfeld thought they were in “excellent condition”.

Bakos also removed trees last year in December from Rivonia Road in Illovo, between Melville and Eton roads to make space for a new Bakos Brothers building. He had the same complaints from residents in Residents raise tree-chopping concerns, week ending 13 December. It is now landscaped area planted with aloes.

When asked for comment about the latest issue, he said he cut down two trees and trimmed another. “The trees were half dead and the top parts were falling on people and their cars,” said Bakos.

He added it took city council three months to approve his request to cut the trees down, and confirmed he was given permission to do so. He received an email confirmation from City Parks to say he can go ahead and cut the trees.

Jenny Moodley, spokesperson for City Parks said that, as the cut trees were on private property and not on the street, he did not need council’s permission but had nonetheless obtained it. City Parks is responsible for maintaining and cutting trees on public sidewalks, but cannot give permission to prune trees on private property. Moodley said they have no connection to the property, and Bakos was simply being extra cautious and made sure he had permission to go ahead.

The inquiry as to whose land the property belongs to has been sent to the City of Johannesburg to investigate.