WATCH: Illegally dumped fish carcasses cause big stink in Boksburg
At this stage, it's still unclear if this practice can be linked to claims that it could be from local seafood retailers.
A large pile of rotting fish carcasses was illegally discarded on an embankment in Yaldwyn Road, turning the grassy wetland into a toxic wasteland.
The environmental health issue recently came to light after concerned residents complained about something causing a stench along the stretch of the road next to the water body.
One resident said she could smell the rot in the air from inside her car.
The Advertiser went to investigate and could smell the unbearable stench before we actually saw the dumped carcasses, stashed in a large industrial bag and wrapped in plastic.
Birds were swooping down and others circling the sky for a chance to pick at the decomposing carcasses.
The Advertiser also discovered that just a few meters from the pile of fish carcasses, somebody had dumped rubbish that appears to be commercial waste from offices, consisting mainly of packaging materials such as paper, coffee containers, plastics, cans and other items.
More messy discovery
Another resident pointed out that they have identified four other spots where the shocking practice of discarding fish is continuing illegally.
He said piles of illegally discarded fish carcasses were discovered near Atlas Road in Atlasville, the R23 in Brentwood Park and two spots on the M32, one near Benoni Road and the other closer to Wattle Road in Benoni.
At this stage, it’s still unclear if this practice can be linked to claims that it could be from local seafood retailers.
The metro has not yet responded to our request for comment on this issue.
Concerned residents took to social media to raise their concerns about the stench at the wetland:
Bruce Ryan: Has anyone else smelt the extremely unpleasant smell this past week on the corner of Yaldwyn Road and Jan Smuts Avenue? Maybe the authorities that be should really investigate the water or below, near the fire training facility, because something is dead in that area. It gradually got worse over the week.
Ria Rudolph: It’s been there since Sunday last week. Someone dumped a big white bag and boxes of whole fish along the road. It’s really terrible
Pieter de Bruyn: I drove past the Boksburg SPCA! There is a smell that makes you sick when you drive over that railway bridge.
Tyler Schepetin: Smells horrible, horrible.
Kerry Dalby: It was exactly the same on the corner of De Havilland Avenue and Atlas Road in February.
Also Read: Cason residents fed up with illegal dumping, fires
