Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ), the City of Johannesburg’s entity responsible for greening, horticulture and public open space maintenance, has intensified its maintenance programme to address seasonal backlogs caused by heavy and persistent rainfall.
JCPZ manages over 20 000 hectares of green open spaces across the City. These include flagship parks, conservation areas, the Johannesburg Botanical Garden, 134 conservation sites, 38 cemeteries, three crematoria and the Joburg Zoo. The portfolio also covers an estimated 3.6 million street trees, wetlands, water bodies, river trails and the ongoing control of invasive plant species. Collectively, these assets form the city’s “green lungs”, supporting air quality, biodiversity and community wellbeing.
Since October 2025, JCPZ emergency response teams have attended to over 420 fallen trees during peak storm periods. Teams across all seven regions continue to respond to weather-related incidents, while also addressing routine services such as grass cutting, tree pruning and general park maintenance. The festive season and limited staffing capacity have added pressure, but critical work has remained a priority.
Unpredictable weather patterns have further disrupted planned maintenance schedules, as wet conditions affect machinery and site access. Despite these constraints, JCPZ is working closely with contractors to optimise performance and restore services as conditions allow.
As a city committed to urban greening, Johannesburg relies on well-maintained parks and tree-lined streets to reduce heat, improve air quality and provide safe recreational spaces for a growing population. The work undertaken by JCPZ plays a direct role in protecting these environmental assets and improving residents’ quality of life.
Residents are encouraged to visit the JCPZ website to view area-specific maintenance schedules and to assist by maintaining grass verges adjacent to their properties. Illegal dumping, unauthorised tree removal and other by-law transgressions should be reported.
“We understand the importance of green spaces to daily life in Johannesburg and remain committed to keeping them healthy and accessible,” said JCPZ Managing Director Thanduxolo Mendrew.
Service-related queries may be logged via the Joburg Connect Call Centre on 011 375 5555 or 0860 56 2874, or by email at joburgconnect@joburg.org.za.