Metro says residents cause their own filth in Daveyton

A despondent Daveyton resident took the time to email Benoni City Times in the hopes of getting answers about why their neighbourhood is in such a state of deterioration.

Kgotsofalang Mashilo, of Mayfield Ext 8, highlighted a manhole in Vester/Brown Street (just before Modimolle Street) that had been leaking “for over a year”, blocked and leaking stormwater drains in the same area, which have damaged roads, and out-of-control illegal dumping.

“Exposure to raw sewage is known to increase the risk of waterborne diseases, skin infections and respiratory illnesses, a particular danger to children, the elderly and those with chronic conditions.

“The illegal dumping stems from irregular refuse collection and failure to clear designated dumping sites, despite the City of Ekurhuleni’s own Integrated Waste Management by-laws (Sections 15 and 22) that require regular waste collection and prevention of refuse build-up in public areas.

“Earlier this year, the metro publicly promised via social media to prioritise cleaning illegal dumping sites in Daveyton and Etwatwa,” Mashilo said.

The City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) responded to all the issues raised, highlighting that many of these are caused by “bad human behaviour” and are, therefore, preventable.

Spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said residents need to have a high regard for cleaner environments.

“Residents should take ownership of their living spaces and report culprits involved in activities like illegal dumping. Illegal dumping is rife across the city. This can be attributed to bad human behaviour regarding taking care of the environment and keeping it clean at all times.”

Dlamini disputes irregular refuse collection.

“Refuse collection has been rendered consistently by the calendar in the abovementioned areas. There was a small issue that interrupted the service schedules in recent weeks, but the problem has been resolved and services are back to normal.

“Despite refuse collection services being rendered consistently and on schedule every week, people don’t store waste in the allocated 240-litre wheelie bins until the next waste collection cycle, and instead dump it illegally in any open space.”

He added that the CoE’s efforts to educate residents about using the wheelie bins for the purposes of the storage of refuse have had a slow uptake.

“The city has a seven-day schedule for removal of illegally dumped waste, but the rate of dumping, because of human behaviour, nullifies our efforts.

“Keeping the environment clean is the responsibility of both the municipality and communities.

“The mandate of the municipality is to provide the required refuse collection services, and residents should ensure that such services are utilised on a weekly basis.

“We plead with communities to refrain from disposing of waste indiscriminately and use the refuse collection services.”

This was further feedback from the CoE:
“The sewer blockage on Vester/Brown Street has been cleared. The cause of the continuous blockage is residents discharging undesired foreign objects into the sewer line, such as stones, bricks, bottles, cans, rugs and cow skins,” Dlamini said.

“There are no designated refuse dumping sites in the abovementioned areas. Residents should not confuse illegal dumping hotspots with designated sites simply because the municipality removes this waste at regular intervals.

“It is, in fact, an offence for people to dispose of refuse illegally at any open space not permitted by licensing authorities as a waste storage facility.

“Licensing of waste storage facilities is governed by the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) (Waste Act).

“The process involves applying to the relevant licensing authority, which could be the national or a provincial department, and undergoing an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

“The City of Ekurhuleni has not undertaken this process for designated waste storage facilities to be constructed in Mayfield, Daveyton and/or Putfontein. Thus, all dumping taking place in open spaces in these areas is illegal and should be discouraged.”

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