Rustenburg resident spends R200,000 to transform neglected field into community park

In a remarkable act of civic dedication, 68-year-old Rustenburg resident Otukile Motshwaedi has poured over R200,000 of his own money into transforming an overgrown, neglected field near his home into a well-maintained park.

Motshwaedi recalled the state of the land when he moved to the area in 2013: “When I arrived, it was a thicket bush from the road all the way to the river. It was easy for criminals to hide here or escape through the bush.

Even local residents, who were non-law-abiding, were dumping their waste here. I love cleanliness and nature, and I thought about what could be done to secure the image of my home, which is a corner house opposite this open field.”

He said that he began the painstaking work of clearing the area, removing dead trees, cutting grass, landscaping, and later bringing in machinery to improve the site. Concrete barriers were installed around the perimeter to prevent the area from returning to its former state as a dumping ground.

However, the park has sparked controversy because it lacks formal approval from the Rustenburg Local Municipality.

DA Ward 16 Councillor Johan Cronje raised questions about the legal status of the park, acknowledging Motshwaedi’s effort but warning of potential consequences. 

“There’s a lot of work and infrastructure that’s gone into this park, and the gentleman’s intentions are clearly good. But the municipality has no record of a formal application to proclaim this as a park or to install permanent infrastructure. This sets a dangerous precedent and encourages others to annex land without permission, potentially for commercial purposes, which could put strain on municipal infrastructure and result in lost revenue,” he said.

Motshwaedi, however, remains steadfast in his efforts to maintain the park.

“I can count two or three parks nearby that have returned to thick bush like this one was. To rehabilitate them will cost far more than I’ve spent. I’ve lost faith in the municipality doing this work, but if they support my vision by giving me a permit, I will maintain it,” he said.

The Star