Posselt Park at risk as illegal dumping and informal settlements grow
Illegal waste dumping and the rise of informal dwellings are endangering Posselt Park, leaving nearby residents fearful and concerned about the park’s ecological future. Councillor Jill Humphreys highlights the challenges caused by unpaid municipal waste tariffs.
Residents near Posselt Park, a wetland area, have expressed concern over safety and neglect caused by illegal dumping and informal dwellings.
According to ward councillor Jill Humphreys, the main issue stems from residents avoiding municipal waste tariffs.
“What has been happening a lot is that people who don’t want to pay the tariffs for waste removal come and dump their domestic waste into our street litter baskets.
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“Some of it ends up here because of the recycling and homeless people sorting through it. All that effort to avoid paying the tariffs,” Humphreys explained.
Nearby residents say they are now too afraid to use the park. Loud noises and fires at night, started by homeless individuals living in the area, have caused alarm, particularly among the elderly and other vulnerable community members.
Several informal shacks have also been erected along the fences and within the park, which sits on a sensitive wetland area.
Humphreys stressed that Posselt Park has the potential to be a bird sanctuary and an important ecological site, but waste dumping and illegal occupation are undermining its value.
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She added that earlier proposals to transform the park into an eco-friendly protected space were rejected by the City of Ekurhuleni.
By the time of going to print, the city had not provided a comment.
