Spruit what's going on??

[Patchelicious]

patch you are better than this

You are right! My apologies. Woosah!

[longweasel]

After 15 years of riding the sruit I have never seen it like this. So when I ask what is going on it's a legit question. The spruit clean was just the other day and it's like this. I do feel for these guys and girls( btw) is it a political thing with the DA now in charge or are things just getting so bad out there that people don't have an alternative.

[King_Crispy]

They were supposed to be cleared from the spruit. It was published in the papers and the Sandton Chronicle that the paperwork was in order and that they had even secured the services of a bulldozer and police helicopter to ensure everything was completed. Ha, typical crap, nothing happens

[Odinson]

You don't see me moaning about "poor people" do you?

 

You also don't know all the things that I do to try and make a difference for those who have less.

 

So piss off!

 

Patch, do you throw those poor sods on the Spruit a fiver when you come flying past on you S-Works?

[Paul Ruinaard]

On Sunday a lot of apostolic church's come and cleanse and baptise in the spruit

And have been doing so for a very long time. Since i first pedalled on to a track that has become the "spruit" about 20 years ago.

 

They have always been there every Sunday.

 

Squatters have been there as well for donkeys years especially above DHL near Pick n pay Sunninghill. Over 15 years that I can recll.

 

Its that the "spruit" has all of a sudden become popular , that is what has happened. Park Runners, Trailheads and the like never existed 10 years ago even. Now MTB has also taken off and its a lekker urban trail. Quite unique actually. CTN has something similar but the Spruit is pretty good.

 

Sure you have rights to the areas as public areas. But its the popularity and explosion in interest that is driving the less desirable pieces in to public view.

 

BTW - there have been murders on the Spruit, stabbing of bikers who didnt survive, plus many other much more or less desirable incidents. If you were on some of the older forums you knew about some of the bodies that have been discovered - and in case you are thinking its only squatters, the naked white woman near Riverclub etc.

 

So this is not news.

[Skinnyone]

Yeah like Paul said, I have ridden the spruit since the early days - when you could ride the whole way and maybe see one other biker/walker. I am talking at least 12/13 years ago when I started at Fritz Pienaar cycles in Paulshof...

 

The "vagrants" have always been there and have seen them bathing and relieving themselves in the river...it was a joke on shop rides that whoever put their foot down in the river whilst crossing would get "jukskei foot" and have to buy a round of coffee at the end.

 

Luckily I have never been attacked or approached menacingly by anyone on the spruit - I even used to commute along there on a daily basis...But I have heard the horror stories.

 

This is not news...it is just more visible to more people because there are more people who have access to BikeHub/insta/twitter etc that it becomes "shocking" - people don't want to accept that other people live like that.

 

Hell I even worked alongside an "ex-vagrant" who told me that when he moved to JHB from KZN, he couldn't get a job, he lived along the spruit until he found work and could afford rent etc...

[nonky]

I hope this isn't a moan about poor people trying to live interfering with your Sunday morning coffee ride. Check your privilege.

 

No, it's about preserving the only green lung in Johannesburg for the MANY.

 

Check your reality.

[Plentipotential]

I hope this isn't a moan about poor people trying to live interfering with your Sunday morning coffee ride. Check your privilege.

 

You are right, and I also feel for people who have no other option. However, I am also glad I am not one of the people who paid big money for a house in those suburbs.

[NelAndre]

I live in Pta and I often go and ride the Spruit. I find it unique and amazing to experience all ends of the scale. Have never felt threatened at all but I do stay alert.

 

What would your comments be, is the Spruit safe?

[Patchelicious]

I live in Pta and I often go and ride the Spruit. I find it unique and amazing to experience all ends of the scale. Have never felt threatened at all but I do stay alert.

 

What would your comments be, is the Spruit safe?

If you take number of cyclists/jogger/doggers vs incidents, it is.

[NicoBoshoff]

I just checked my privilege again, and wouldn't you know it, the people that were poor and jobless are still poor and jobless. Must be doing it wrong.

 

Maybe if we combine my privilege checking with your virtue signalling we could actually get other people to do something about the issue?  

[Odinson]

I just checked my privilege again, and wouldn't you know it, the people that were poor and jobless are still poor and jobless. Must be doing it wrong.

 

Maybe if we combine my privilege checking with your virtue signalling we could actually get other people to do something about the issue?  

 

Did you remember to switch it off and back on again? That usually works when mine goes on the blink.

[NicoBoshoff]

Did you remember to switch it off and back on again? That usually works when mine goes on the blink.

*standing applause* hahahaha

[NotSoBigBen]

Did you remember to switch it off and back on again? That usually works when mine goes on the blink.

 

 

Sound like a blimmin PC 'technician' 

[Grant Frewen]

Whats going on is a 27%-40% unemployment rate depending on who youre asking .

Whats going on is the total lack of law enforcement on so many levels within Gauteng and this equates to a zero 0 none enforcement of what SAPS and Metro Police call B grade crimes -littering , fires , alcohol consumption in parks , vagrancy, damage to property and wildlife and the whole raft of bylaws .

Whats going on is Re-cycling is the biggest new employer and there is no formal infrastrucutre to support it .

quite simply the problem is growing and now is a ugly sore on what was once a awesome length of a green lung . Its sad but until you as an individual get motivated to do something about it its gonna get worse .