Litter at Brakpan Dam irks runners
The runners have decided to take it upon themselves to clean up the place they have their weekly runs at.
The athletes who regularly take part in the parkrun in Brakpan have had enough of the state of the area around the dam.
“We’ve been struggling to get Ekurhuleni to clean up and cut the grass,” said the director of Brakpan Parkrun Dewald Bekker.
“When they do cut the grass they cut over the litter and leave it just like that. So we are trying to keep this place clean. They have only cut the grass twice.”
Read: Cheers as Brakpan Parkrun turns one
The runners not only have to brave the morning cold for their 5km run, but they also have to deal with garbage around the dam.
“It can be a problem because if you check how the litter is lying around by the small dam, it’s an environmental hazard. Not environmentally friendly for anyone who uses the place,” said Bekker.
Bekker told Brakpan Herald of the issues he and his fellow runners have experienced on Saturday mornings.
“We’ve also got the problem of the people breaking the fence and people using the area to have sex, and that is not good because we are running through this area,” he said.
Bekker said they have been trying to get the municipality to help, but they have not received any help yet.
“They just keep making promises, that’s all,” he said.
Brakpan Park Run results:
• July 20: 1 Glyn Rynhoud 20:36; 2 Willem Bekker 22:37; 3 Bongiwe Simelane 22:56; 4 Gabrie Combrinck 23:38; 5 Shavhani Mutsutshu 23:58; 6 Klaas Prinsloo 24:54; 7 Maxwell Lameck 26:30; 8 Dewald Bekker 27:01; 9 Hennie Human 27:40; and 10 Shane Locker 27:46.
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