My new story idea

I am now exploring the Linksfield grasslands near the Jukskei for another story. 

Marian, Alistair and I in the grasslands

These grasslands lie next to the Jukskei and the Rietfontein hospital, now known as Sizwe hospital. The Jukskei is an important part of the grasslands according to Marian Laserson, an ex-architect passionate about preserving the Jukskei.  Marian has worked with other enthusiastic environmentalists and community members to stop the development of these grasslands.

Marian believes that further property development has been stalled so far because the anti-development group maintain there is grave site under the grasslands, which contains the bodies of anthrax victims. They argue that if developers disturb it, they could unleash a wave of anthrax. Anthrax is a deadly disease carried by spores that can last for centuries.

Gravestones in the Grasslands

The anti-development group also mention in documents that the grasslands cover a smallpox grave. They argue that smallpox will pose a health risk to people if the graves are dug up. There was a smallpox hospital on the site previously.
According to a doctor I spoke to last night, smallpox cannot survive in dead bodies and if the smallpox victims' graves are disturbed, the disease could not be contracted.

However, anthrax could pose a threat, if there really are bodies with anthrax under the grass.

Up to now no new development on the Linksfield grasslands near The Jukskei has taken place. River guardians are pleased.

This is not the only angle to the hospital story.

Near the grasslands there is also a shopping centre with Woolworths as the main tenant. A pipe was built by the shopping centre to move sewerage from the centre to a sewerage works. The pipe crossed the river. I have seen photos of the old concrete pipe. According to Paul, the river broke the pipe and as a result sewerage ran into the river for a long time. After multiple complaints, Paul eventually got whoever was responsible to fix it. He said it took two years.  The pipe was never supposed to be there in the first place.


There also used to be monkeys that lived in the grasslands until a water organisation cut down the alien vegetation. According to Marian, the organisation wanted to stop alien plants, such as blue gum trees, from guzzling excessive amounts of ground water. But the anti-alien vegetation do-gooders stole the monkeys' habitat through their actions.

At face value it is important to save water by reducing the amount of alien vegetation. But when animals lose their habitat it also creates problems.

Do-gooders must think. Solving one problem can cause another.

I can't wait for tomorrow. I will be able to get more details on these stories.