Illegal dumping causes headache for residents

Residents of Ramaphosa informal settlement (Extension Five) have raised their concerns about the proliferation of illegal dumping at a nearby vacant field.

The frustrated residents have described illegal dumping in the area as a big health concern.

The Advertiser visited the area recently and found that the vacant field, which is near a church, is filled with all sorts of trash, including rotten food, plastics, card boxes, dirty clothing and rubble.

According to one of the residents, Ntombizanele Ntshutshwana, the illegal dumping activities were caused by uncollected garbage.

“The problem has been ongoing since last year around October when the waste truck stopped collecting our rubbish. People have been left with no choice but to dump their rubbish at these vacant spaces,” said Ntshutshwana.

Ntshutshwana said a body of a newborn baby was also discovered last month by a recycler at the dumpsite.

Another resident, Maria Ntamela, said foul smell and the infestation of rats have been terrorising the community.

“We can’t even open our windows because of the smell and flies. We feel like our grievances are not taken into consideration because nothing is being done to clean up the mess. All we want is to see our area clean like other areas so we can live in peace. We hope the metro will hear our pleas and attend to our problem,” said Ntamela.

Ward 42 Clr Musa Nkosi said she is aware of four dumpsites in the area, which include this one.

“The contractors which were hired to clean these dumpsites have since last year been halted, which is why the dumpsites haven’t been cleared,” Nkosi said. She said she will visit the dumpsite to observe the situation.

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