Durban’s Mitchell Park – RIP
I remember going to Durban’s Mitchell Park as a kid. It was fantastic. Huge trees, rolling lawns, exotic birds and animals in enclosures – even an elephant and a crocodile that never seemed to move– and a tea garden with giant scones dripping in cream and jam.
I went back this week after many years, expecting a certain amount of deterioration given that the ANC has been grinding Durban into the ground ever since 1994.
The state of the place came as a shock. Well, inasmuch as anybody who lives in this country can ever be shocked about anything any more.
The entrance fee of R16 is certainly not being spent on maintenance.
The children’s playground is cordoned off like a crime scene. What looked like an entire school of small children was milling around, inexplicably screaming as if they’d seen something terrible. I felt like joining in.
Bricks on the pathways are uneven and broken. I tripped and would’ve hit the ground if a conveniently placed child hadn’t broken my fall. He looked at me as if he’d never seen a white man before. Perhaps he hadn’t. There weren’t any others around.
The Blue Zoo Tea Garden is closed and clearly has been for a very long time.
The animal section looks like the Baghdad Zoo after the US invasion of Iraq and the enclosures have all the appeal of Guantanamo Bay. One empty, dilapidated cage after another. The only animals I saw were two sad-looking rabbits, a moth-eaten alpaca and a few tortoises so big and solid that not even the ANC could kill them.
There’s a rundown cage with a few hadedas in it, which I didn’t mind because they deserve to be behind bars.
In another bleak cage, a solitary kookaburra stands immobile on a dry branch. It looks like a taxidermist put him there. You’re well and truly stuffed now, mate.
Concrete pools that were once alive with ducks and swans lie empty and cracked.
Unswept pathways are covered in sand and debris as if a recent flood had taken place.
“It wasn’t always this way,” I say apologetically to my friend from Europe. She smiles and says it’s not my fault. Isn’t it, though? Aren’t we all partly to blame? I can’t help feeling we should have done something to stop the ANC from destroying the few jewels that lay scattered around this once-popular holiday city. We could have at least tried.
It’s too late now. The future of Durban lies north of the Umgeni where private money funds private initiatives beyond the reach of the grasping, destructive hands of the eThekwini City Council.
This so-called “zoo” must be closed down and the few surviving animals and birds moved to a sanctuary where they can be looked after by people who care.
There’s a piece you can find on Google called Angry Expat, it profiles your kind of response perfectly, well worth the read.
Thank you John.
My heart goes out to these poor animals and birds who have no voice. I hope to goodness they are being fed and watered every day..
SPCA needs to get involved
Facebook needs to be told
Thank you John for enlightening me on this oh so tragic story.
Warm Regards Jill Corfield 083 324 3434
As a child I lived in Lambert rd , I was always taken to “The Park” my twin brother Peter and I. I played junior tennis there for many years. I am deeply saddened and shocked by what it has become. And please can’t somebody remove the poor birds and
animals remaining, please save them. It is disgusting and shocking that living hardly moving creatures are tortured and inprisoned
Indeed, the community is partly to blame & must get involved to lobby relevant stakeholders to do their part.
We had a similar issue when I used2stay @ Albert Park area, there was too much crime & neglect:
We had to lobby & sign petition;
* community leaders
* churches
* landlords to maintain buildings
* tenants
Eventually, there was progress:
* The main street was entirely revamped ( Diakonia Avenue)
* Metro Police Station was built
* My company had to renovate our office entirely to demonstrate to Landlord as architects in area we were serious & thereafter they followed suit.
* My company partnered with Paint companies & various buildings were repainted.
* Landlords maintained buildings better in Diakonia Avenue
* The park was secured, regrassed, reactivated recreational activities & was maintained better than before.
* We held weekly prayer meetings at YMCA
* Crime drastically reduced
It is still not perfect, but far much better than what it was.
_*”It always seems impossible until it’s done” Madiba Magic*_
And just look at the mess that is Albert Park noe!
My heart is breaking. How can we change this? What can we do? It’s an irony that the Parks Dept are next door to Mitchell Park but that’s another Dept that needs major intervention. May I suggest you forward this article to the Berea Mail? I am sure keen and active citizens will want to know what we can do to get involved and make Mitchell Park beautiful again. There are plenty of citizens which care and I believe want to see change. It’s exhausting when one is blocked by a defunct and corrupt Municipality but ratepayers can be powerful in change…I live in hope.
Just been there. Purposely posted bad pictures. Mitchell park still lovely is used for picnics. Animals have been moved. Cages used very clean with fresh water. Why would people do this.
Is there not an organisation that can rescue those poor animals left there?
Appalling! I’m heartsore fir those animals and birds still captive there. Please, someone, take them away from this devastated wasteland.
Exactly my tots …are they even being fed is there food for them someone should remove them 😒
Gosh, this is really sad indeed, I would not have known how grossly worse it has got to, had I not read your story. With escalating crime in all our suburbs, one can hardly venture out of our homes anymore. My family and I used to enjoy our weekends when our children were young in the 90’s. Those poor speechless animals, I can guarantee that they would have had alot to say if they could talk, and Animal organizations must get a court order and have them removed to a better environment where they may remain until their end days. What a crying shame!!!!!!
I can enlighten you as to why the small children were screaming. It’s because they HAD seen a white man before. At that age (small children), usually the only white man they have seen is a doctor, who always gives them a big umjovo.
I was mystified as to why, when my wife walked into Cookie’s crèche there was always great jubilation and thronging, then as I entered the room, great terror, screaming and panicked scattering. On enquiry I was enlightened by Cookie. Now you know.
It’s so heart breaking. The same could be said for the Umgeni Bird Park. The ANC is raping our country.
Yes I too loved the Mitchell Park in my young boy days in the 60’s and 70’s What a treasure. Yes we should have been sharing it with all the residents of SA, we were wrong in that regard …. BUT time has moved on and South Africa is open and available to be enjoyed by all. BUT for the Dirtbag, theiving, rubbish scum ANC. I don’t think anyone really cares who the hell runs the country as long as they do a good job. In sporting terms SA is “game over”
The whole Country is Doomed, with the Present Circus clowns,running the show. Couldn’t arrange a Pissup in a Brewery.
The story of South Afriica now — the ANC have truly destroyed anything good – those poor, poor animals. It is diabolical whst has happened to the country. Perhaps memories of scones dripping in jam and cream is too much of a colonial concept for many. How tragic that the people of Durban are longer ablevto enjoy the simplep easure of visiting such a haven
PLEASR Ben, get hold of those organizations that still have compassion for the voiceless and rescue those despairing animals. Would that we could send the poor kookaburra back to its homeland aa well. My heart is broken by the tragedy this country has become.
Just wondering, as Pres Kennedy taught his citizens: “should we always ask, what can the Country do for us; how about WHAT CAN WE ( in this instance The Park )DO FOR OUR TOWN?????!!!!!! Nobody really wants to take their lazy hands out of their pockets
I agree. There are so many tradesmen in our city, business people who are able to sponsor projects like this and for the local community to rescue and restore this place to what it was but it all boils down to selfishness and incompassion. This is what my Hindu scripture calls..time of Kaliyuga.
Send article to Rob Hersov to ” bomb ” truth into the populace who expect the tap to come to them when they thirst
The cANCer that has not only destroyed our province but our country should be absolutely ashamed of themselves. They have failed the people. If they took long enough to comprehend that this is not an impact with racial connotations…they are failing their people, their children and their children’s children. Disgusting is to kind a word.
Saddening
Everything that the useless ANC governments hands have touch has turned to soot. They inherited an amazing country where everything worked and what have they done hey have destroyed everything by corruption and incomptence and their people have been left worse off except the Cadre whi have plundered the coffers. Disgusting.
Yep. As I have always said, some people have the midas touch. But the ANC has the shit touch as everything they touch turns to shit.
Thank you for writing this. What an abysmal place it has become, sad indeed. Perhaps it has been earmarked for some housing perhaps – who knows hey.
Broke my heart to read your piece, Ben, on the utter neglect of Mitchell Park ~ and as John remarked, minus your iconic satire. Just a sad truth on a delightful recreational haven that I, and my children, cherished. As you rightfully suggest, the animals that are left should be moved to a place where they will be cared for. Thank you for this.
Try the umgeni bird park you will be horrified
How tragic. I used to love Mitchell Park as a child. So many fond memories. It’s incredibly sad seeing these special havens left to ruin. It was a wonderful place to play and just be amongst animals and trees. Even if the animals were in cages which today is not that appealing but it could have evolved with the times and been maintained as a special green space. But no. Yet another loss. I do hope the animals are rescued. That’s the worst thing in this whole sorry saga.
It is totally heartbreaking to see it in such disrepair
My heart goes out to the poor remaining animals/bircs
They should be immediately removed and housed in a safe environment
I have such wonderful memories of Mitchell Park as a child I loved all the animals,including Ellie the Elephant
Sadly did not realise how sad it was for her ,but it was pristine,up and until a few years ago,the gardens,the whole place was wonderful
SAD SAD
Hey Ben. Thanks ( no thanks) for sharing this doom and gloom. I like to share stories like this but then having left good ol Durbs for the UK, ( definitely greener), I soon enough get shouted down by friends and yes, some family too that may still be stuck there. You see, I’m not one of the “tolerant” sheep and neither are my immediate and extended family who are also in the UK. I salute all the Saffas that “ tolerate” this destruction, or cannot not see outside of the blinkers/ tunnel vision, what the ANC are still doing day in and day out to a once beautiful Durban.
Yes, there is shit everywhere in the world, Europe included , much so. However, the lack of intelligence of the ANC is proof in the state of the country. Admittedly it’s a beautiful country but the majority, that begs questioning. Would I ever go back? Maybe in a coffin but then it better be a protected one for fear of the hardware being stolen.
Eish boet. I have no further words. Prayers won’t help either if the culture, mindset and intelligence can’t sort things out.
Best wishes mate. Rant over🤪
I always enjoy your column piece. But this one is filled with such pathos. It is rare for you to be so forthright. And reading through it, I recalled my own childhood experience in the Park. To see it’s degradation is despairing. So much is being lost because the powers-that-be see it only as a source of personal income rather than something to be cherished. Thank you
A sad reflection with hardly a hint of satire.