Ntuthuko Maphumulo Residents near Johannesburg’s Zoo Lake have teamed up with the city council to try to restore the treasured green belt to its former glory – complete with a multicoloured lighting display at the fountain in the lake. They have formed a committee to raise funds to restore Zoo Lake, which has suffered in recent years from a lack of funding by the municipality and inadequate refuse services.
While there have been previous privately funded efforts to prevent the park going to ruin, this time residents are determined to dramatically upgrade the facilities. Funds raised through a charity golf day in the previous years have been used to provide new drinking fountains, better signs and new steel rubbish bins. The proceeds of this year’s annual golf day, due on September 20 at the Killarney golf course, will be used to restore the fountain in the middle of the lake to its former glory and to improve crime-fighting measures around the lake. The fountain, which used to be lit in a multicoloured display at night, was constructed to commemorate the coronation of King George VI.
The park was notably multiracial under apartheid. Spokes Mashiyane played his penny whistle there in 1958 and Muslims have been coming to the park to celebrate Eid.
Zoo Lake has been hit in recent years with several violent attacks – including attacks on homosexuals who use the park as a pick- up joint. Badly organised jazz festivals have left the park and the surrounding upmarket suburbs covered in rubbish. One of the park’s employees, Ben Masalesa, is now helping residents from Alexandra plant flower and vegetable gardens, and offers courses on basic horticulture and environmental awareness.