Ward committee members clean informal settlement dump site

Kwa-Thema – Ward 74 committee members, CWP and the Ecco Green co-operation based at the Ekuthuleni informal settlements held a cleaning campaign on Monday from 07:00 to 13:00.

Mzonjani Sithole, ward committee member for environmental resources, waste management and the agriculture sector said, “We cleaned about 95% of the area and agreed that Ecco Green, responsible for cleaning the area, will continue making sure that cleanliness is maintained.”

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According to Sithole, the area is a legal dumping site, an arranged spot for the community to dump rubbish, with plans to get a truck to come and collect regularly.

Sithole said, “Ecco Green gives black rubbish bags to residents regularly for the rubbish there and dumps at the spot.

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However, Ecco Green representatives said they had a backlog as they did not have enough materials to cater for the residents and also to clean the area.”

Ecco Green deputy chairperson Busisiwe Skosana said, “We are responsible for cleaning the area.

However, during the festive season, some people have dumped building rubble in the area and we need a TLB to remove that.

“The company we get rubbish bags from was also closed and we couldn’t give bags to the residents as we usually do.

They have opened recently and we will give residents the bags that will help maintain the cleanliness.”

Ward 74 Clr Thulane Simelane said, “The community was starting to complain as the rubbish was now getting into people’s yards, hence we saw it fit as the ward committee to clean the area.

“There is a company which offered us cleaning materials and tools and that makes cleaning easier.

“I call upon the city to give the residents of Ekuthuleni rubbish bins and also have a weekly collection of the rubbish.”