Town overwhelmed by illegal dumping
With the gates closed, however, people have resorted to leaving their rubbish at the site's entrance and along the barrier where the road has been closed off.
If you thought the entrance into Brakpan via Main Reef Road couldn’t get any worse, think again. Not only do residents have to make use of a diversion route through the Plastic City informal settlement, as a result of illegal miners demolishing the road, they now have an additional eyesore with which to deal.
The entrance and surrounding area of the Weltevreden Landfill Site, which has reportedly been closed since October, is steadily becoming an illegal dumping hot spot.
The non-payment of service providers is the reason for the site’s closure. The site is used not only by Brakpan residents but also by those from neighbouring towns who make use of the facility to dispose of their rubbish.
With the gates closed, however, people have resorted to leaving their rubbish at the site’s entrance and along the barrier where the road has been closed off.
ALSO READ: Inbrekers dreig om te verkrag, huis af te brand
The area is strewn with all sorts of trash and rubble with the volume growing daily. It has also become a haven for unsavoury characters who pester motorists for money.
During a visit to the site by the Herald on Monday afternoon, a man attempted to snatch a cellphone from a journalist who was capturing video footage of the area.
The would-be thief then shouted out a demand for money after he failed to grab the device and she drove off.
The presence of the Plastic City informal settlement has had residents living in the surrounding suburbs concerned about their safety for years and the current situation is adding to those fears.
Residents are becoming increasingly anxious about their safety, as well as with the lack of a critical service. DA councillor for Ward 97 in Brakpan Brandon Pretorius confirmed the site has been closed since late last year.
“There has been hardly any to no formal communication received from the City of Ekurhuleni in this regard,” he said.
“The effect the closure of the site has had on the town has been horrific with residents from all over Ekurhuleni wanting to dump at the site finding it closed now reverting to illegal dumping as their only option.”
He told the Herald he has been inundated with calls over the past few weeks from residents pleading for assistance, and some showing great compassion for the town.
“It has been confirmed by the newly elected MMC for Environment and Waste Management, Alderman Andre du Plessis, that the service providers meant to manage the site have not been paid,” said Pretorius.
“I await further feedback on a way forward. The MMC has confirmed that the department is aware of the challenge and is on the verge of resolving the matter.”
ALSO READ: Crime and state of town on the agenda at SAPS meeting
Pretorius explained he has invited City of Ekurhuleni mayor Alderman Tania Campbell to conduct a visit to the Weltevreden Landfill Site.
“I further extended the invitation and pleaded with the mayor to ensure that her visit includes her relevant mayoral committee members to ensure the visit not only looks into the challenge faced at the landfill site but also includes a visit through Plastic City to look at the challenges created by the settlement, as well as the destruction of Main Reef Road through the activities of illegal miners,” he said.
“I welcome the mayor’s response and believe that this visit will come with fruitful resolutions to ensure that service delivery in Brakpan improves.”
Comment requested from the City of Ekurhuleni will be published once it has been received.
