Big mess after Pride

This according to a resident who does not wish to be named and believes the park should be a place where joggers from the area go to keep safe and fit. She said, “City Parks needs to stop giving permission for any event to be held in this tiny, family-orientated park.”

She added, “Residents far and wide could not even enjoy their own homes, let alone the park from which they also could not enter with their children. The music volume was unbearable in our homes and went on until 6pm.”

Ward 91 councillor, Andrew Stewart said his biggest concern is City Parks’ disregard for residents’ concerns. “City Parks is all about revenue generation and the communities’ concerns are a very distant secondary concern, if they are considered at all,” explained Stewart.

Simone Heradien, on behalf of Johannesburg Pride, said a hired cleaning company and the Johannesburg Pride committee ensured that the park was cleaned after the event. “If there was litter left behind we do extend an apology that the company responsible for the cleaning up did not completely fulfill their duty.”

She added that Mushroom Farm Park is a municipal park that belongs to the citizens. “Events should be able to be held at municipal parks,” said Heradien. “We need to balance events at venues which we all pay rates and taxes for. We should be open to all events. We should not live in an elitist apartheid society with people who think certain events should not be held at certain areas.”

Heradien explained that the event ended at 6pm due to the change in weather. “We actually had the venue up until 10pm so in fact we left early,” explained Heradien. “We followed bylaws and we were within the bylaws with regards to the noise.”

No comment was received from City Parks by the time of publication.

Tell us on our Facebook page how you experienced the Johannesburg Pride at Mushroom Farm Park in Sandton.