Growing by the day
As the plastic squatter camp continues to flourish, so does the Brakpan community's anger and intolerance towards it.
Exactly just how much it has thrived over the years can be clearly seen in these images, courtesy of Google Earth, which show the full extent of the problem.
They were sent to the Herald by an Anzac resident and the first image, from 2009, shows the area without any shacks or mounds of rubbish.
The second, from 2010, suggests that unlawful occupants had moved into the area and were beginning to source plastic and other recyclable materials from the Weltevreden Landfill site across the road.
The last three images, from 2011, 2012 and this year, depict the settlement’s imploding expansion.
“I would really appreciate if these pictures were published, so maybe the people of Brakpan and the municipality can see the extent of this chaos at the entrance tour town,” said the resident.
“I have a two-month old baby who is affected by the toxic black smoke every day, not to mention that there is a primary school 200m away.
“I cannot believe that nothing is being done about this.
“This is unhealthy and all the residents of Brakpan have had enough of this.”
Residents most certainly have had enough and the Herald still receives complaints about the settlement on a daily basis, with one man recently threatening to burn down the squatter camp.
There was a brief glimmer of hope earlier this year that action would finally be taken, when the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality held a meeting to address the problem.
The outcome of the meeting indicated that a plan was in place to deal with the squatter camp and that the occupants would be removed.
The plan included securing a court order, identifying funds for the removal and requesting a quotation from a service provider for the removal and subsequent monitoring of the area.
It was also agreed upon during the meeting, that monthly meetings would be held until all occupants were moved out of the area.
The Herald has requested an update from the metro regarding whether these meetings still take place and whether the plan of action has borne fruit.
The response will be published once it has been received.
