Easy access for squatters

Many residents have questioned the erection of this gate, with some believing it suggests the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality’s approval of the squatters’ activities.

This practice, known as informal reclamation, is not uncommon and waste pickers, as they are formally called, can be found at many dumpsites across the country, including the Rooikraal Landfill Site, in Boksburg.

They even have their own organisation, the South African Waste Pickers Association.

“If the metro is allowing the squatters to collect plastic and they are here to stay, then it should be done properly,” said an Anzac resident, who requested not to be named.

“They should be given an area to work inside the dump and shouldn’t be dragging plastic over the road and making another rubbish dump.

“The municipality needs to look at how these people are living, in the filthiest conditions, and get them out of there.

“It’s not good for them or the town.”

Others believe the gate is evidence of corrupt dealings – especially since it was recently relocated out of sight of the public.

According to Dalview resident Dougie Douglas, who claims to have inside information, the management of the dumpsite and the security guards are extorting bribes from the squatters to enter the site.

“I drove past the illegal plastic squatter camp during the afternoon of November 7 and noticed the squatters all sitting on the sand heaps next to the ‘squatter gate’,” he said.

“I noticed the gate, which has been made for them, was closed on this occasion and they were probably waiting for someone to open it for them again.

“On November 8, I saw the gate was open again and the squatters merrily going to and fro through it, illegally gathering stuff from the dump site and carrying it across the road to their squatter camp.

“I also saw the squatters file through this gate on November 18 and go up the hill, past site personnel working at the dump.

“The squatters had to run across the road, facing the oncoming cars and creating another dangerous situation for them and motorists.

“I then saw, on November 19 and 20, that the illegal gate the squatters had been using had been closed and a heap of sand was thrown against poorly placed palisade walling.

“A new ‘gate’ was made about 100m further down and around the bend of the wall, so it’s not visible from the road.”

Douglas also noticed that illegal mining is taking place within the landfill site.

“This all points to a definite involvement of dumpsite employees and management assisting the squatters and receiving money for their efforts,” he said.

“I will place a wager that the gate will not be opened until money has been received from the dumpster miners and gold miners.”

Douglas pointed out that there are numerous signs at the site stating that trespassers will be prosecuted, as well as a sign at the entrance stating that no unauthorised persons will be allowed on the site.

“This situation of the illegal plastic squatter camp would not have started, had the council and the managers of the dumpsite seen to it that access could not be gained to the dump site illegally,” he said.

“It seems they encourage the squatters to remove rubbish from the site and then dump it illegally across the road.

“This constitutes criminality on the part of the squatters, the Weltevreden management and security, and is also a threat to the health of the inhabitants of Brakpan.”

Douglas also claimed that persons connected to council members and the site management, are buying the gold that the squatters are digging up adjacent to the dumpsite, and also collecting money from the squatters to reclaim the plastic from the dumpsite.

“I suggest Brakpan people start suing the town council for their medical bills; my sinus problems have increased again as a result of the burning of the plastic, and the Green Scorpions should take a look at the ‘ungreen’ practices of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality in Brakpan,” Douglas said.

“This could all have been stopped, had the council made space available on the dumpsite for the plastic gatherers to take their collected rubbish, and then buy it back from the squatters.

“Then, in return, the council could have sold it to recyclers.

“Now, there are no water and sewerage facilities for the poorest of the poor making a living from the plastic, thus causing all sorts of current and future health problems.

“It’s a bomb waiting to explode.”

Comment is awaited from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.

More photos: Gallery