Aerial photos capture Plastic City in all its polluted glory
Other than the obvious environmental concerns, many believe Plastic City is a harbour for criminals, illegal immigrants and unlawful activities.
Aerial images of Plastic City show the shocking extent of the pollution in the informal settlement, where mounds of rubbish surround trees and shacks.
Brakpan’s most notorious landmark will be the focus of a community monitoring meeting at the Brakpan Civic Centre on Tuesday, May 30.
Brandon Pretorius, the DA councillor for Ward 97 in Brakpan, has encouraged the community to attend the meeting which has been organised by Ekurhuleni Waste Management Services.
“The Plastic City problem is multi-layered and complicated with key issues falling at national and provincial levels,” he said.
“The DA has presented its plan to resolve the problem to council, and as a next step we will be writing to the national ministers of Local Government and Environment in order to put pressure on the City of Ekurhuleni from above, via Parliament.
“The DA will fight to get the best possible outcome for the residents of Brakpan.”
It’s a fight that’s been on the go for many years, with the Herald first highlighting the problem in August 2009, when it was reported that illegal miners were putting their own lives in danger, as well as those of others, by digging for gold in the area.
A follow-up article two months later reported that the miners were excavating gigantic craters dangerously close to Main Reef Road, posing a hazard to motorists.
Residents started demanding action and clamoured for the squatters to be removed.
It was reported the following year that the squatters’ attention had shifted from gold to plastic, and that they were entering the Weltevreden Landfill Site to remove plastic bottles, bags and other recyclable goods.
An abundance of articles, opinion pieces and letters from residents followed – but no action was taken.
While illegal mining still takes place, informal recycling takes priority and the area has been transformed into a filthy eye-sore and a health hazard.
Other than the obvious environmental concerns, many believe Plastic City is a harbour for criminals, illegal immigrants and unlawful activities.
It was also recently confirmed that the settlement is not suitable for human habitation.
The community monitoring meeting starts at 6pm and the civic centre is situated at the corner of Escombe Avenue and Elliot Street.
Contact Pretorius on 083 308 7821 for more information.
Also read: Plastic City headache continues
Clamp-down on illegal immigrants in Plastic City
Cachalia appalled by ‘Plastic City’
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