The Heroes Park boardwalk at Eastern Beach has been vandalised.
About eight metres of the wooden skywalk path doesn’t have a side barrier, posing a safety hazard to those who enjoy catching a sea breeze.
Regular beachgoer Patrick Methujana, 64, who trains on a daily basis at the beachfront, said he had witnessed the vandalism when it started in November 2018.
“At the time, they [youths] just loosened the bolts and left some planks sagging until they noticed that the municipality was doing nothing to fix it. They then started removing the planks.”
Nethujana said the group of vandals was aged between 11 and 17.
Nethujana said the group were “roaming” the streets during the day, and sleeping in the bush and in the sand dunes at Eastern Beach.
“My questions is why are there no security guards on a 24-hour basis guarding this heritage site?”
Nethujana said he had been visiting the memorial monument for years.
“In fact, the entire beachfront is becoming a dangerous place. Dali Mpofu was stabbed right up that ntaba zonyoko mountain there,” he said pointing eastwards.
Nahoon beach-based Jonginenge Eco Adventure owner Dean Knox and his two daughters – Tatum,13, and Sienna,11 – were disappointed to find the boardwalk in a vandalised state on Monday.
Knox said he decided to take the children for a walk at the memorial site after they asked about the multicultural man statue there.
“My kids asked why the statue of the man was naked, so we decided to come here; but also to see if we could find the footprints of Madiba.”
Knox said: “It is unfortunate that parts of this boardwalk are dilapidated. This is a heritage site, it deserves protection.” Tatum said: “It is really disappointing to see so much litter around as well.”
The boardwalk at Heroes Park belongs to the Heroes Park board.
Board convener and well-known East London medical practitioner Dr Dayamoorthi Appavoo said the vandalism happened before Christmas.
He said he was surprised that the Buffalo City Metro had not attended to the problem.
“I reported to community services portfolio head councillor Helen Neal-May in 2018 and she assured me the municipality would fix it.”
Neal-May subsequently exchanged portfolios with finance head Nontsikelelo Peter during a council reshuffle.
Appavoo said while his board were custodians of the Heroes Park, BCM were the ones who were supposed to take care of security and repairs.
Appavoo used the opportunity to announce the board’s plans to improve the site.
“Two years ago, we came up with the initiative to build a museum and offer something new for the beachfront. We are looking for funds to drive research for the project.”
Helen Neal-May said: “I have no recollection of the complaint or Dr Appavoo and have no recall of taking responsibility. I would have passed it on straightaway to the relevant officials. I was only involved with cleaning of the beachfront.”
BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said: “Please note the boardwalk at Heroes Park belongs to the Heroes Park board – speak to Dr Appavoo, they built it.”
Peter said in an SMS that she was in a meeting. However, she later failed to respond to our questions.
malibongwed@dispatch.co.za..