Business owner says CBD filth is driving customers away
This Benoni business owner is tired of arriving at work to find vagrants sleeping outside the door to his business.
The City Times visited Wilstead Street, Benoni CBD, and the surrounding areas after receiving a complaint from Anton du Plessis, who owns businesses in the area.
The street and surrounding area is riddled with rubbish and has become a dumping site, as well as a sleeping spot for vagrants who also light illegal fires.
According to du Plessis, this has been ongoing since March last year.
“Business owners here pay rates and taxes, yet it still looks like this,” he said. “It’s not fair that we are paying for a service we aren’t receiving.”
This Benoni business owner is tired of arriving at work in the mornings only to find vagrants sleeping outside the door to his business, H & S Timbers, under a canopy.
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“They even relieve themselves on a pole right outside my business!” he said.
“So in the mornings when I arrive, not only do I have to chase them away, but I also have to spray down the whole area to get rid of the smell and pick up the cigarette butts and rubbish they leave behind. It is just not on. I am losing so much business because of this.”
According to du Plessis, not only are the vagrants starting illegal fires in the area but so are employees of the Van Rhyn Vehicle Pound, in Bedford Avenue, across the street from his business.
“I have approached them many times when I have seen fires being started there but it just continues,” he said.
“Although the metro is here on the odd occasion to clean the area, by the next day it is back to exactly the way it was before.”
Spokesperson Zweli Dlamini of the metro said:
“According to Chapter 18, Part V of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Public Health By-Laws Local Authority Notice 1908 of 27 November 2009, open burning of material on any land is prohibited unless prior written authorisation by the municipality is obtained.”
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According to Dlamini, an inspection was held at the Benoni Vehicle Inspection Station in Bedford Avenue, which revealed the following:
• Residues of burnt garden waste were found on the premises.
• The warrant officer interviewed (who also supervises general workers) said they opted to burn the garden waste as an attempt to clean up the premises. The property belongs to the Department of Public Works and the occupants try to take it upon themselves to maintain the property.
• Only two general workers employed under the SAPS are available for cleaning of buildings and yards, and for maintenance as well.
• Refuse bins are not provided in the premises.
• One of the general workers said they had made means to try and obtain refuse bins and/or skips, but to no success.
• During the inspection, overgrown vegetation and the clean-up progress by general workers could be observed.
• The facility manager was not available during the inspection.
Actions taken:
• The warrant officer and general workers were commended for going the extra mile to try and keep their workplace in a clean condition. They were, however, requested to cease burning the waste and advised to try again to obtain refuse bins and possibly make arrangements with the solid waste department to have the waste removed from the premises.
• Furthermore, the premises will be monitored to ensure burning of refuse does not persist, and an inspection report will be compiled for the attention of the facility manager.
